Akop Dinka Community’s Position Paper on the Creation of 5 New Counties in Tonj State

Press Statement from the Youth of Akop Dinka community in Tonj state

February 21, 2016 (SSB)  —-  Grateful to the Almighty God for giving the President of the Republic of South Sudan courageous decision for the historic creation of 28 states in the Republic of South Sudan on 2^nd October 2015.

Recalling the people demand in the Republic of South Sudan to have services taken nearer to our local population.

We Youth members of the former Akop Sub-district in the current Tonj State do here by voicing out our people’s concern to create more counties that will this time make our indigenous population to have their access to the government and services.

Tonj as a Region with its vast territory and great population was supposed to have been two viable states with recent creation of 28 states but unfortunately we are confined in one and a very big state in the country. We know with the poor road network connection and lack of development in the area our people will continue to suffer without enough services delivered to them.

Therefore, we jointly called upon: our community leaders (MPs), the state governor and the president of South Sudan, Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit and any other concern authorities to respect our call and give us our due right and demand during the formation of Tonj State’s new counties.

Historically there were five Payams in the past until 2003 when Tonj was split into three new administrative units (Counties). During the liberation period Tonj was administered under the five Payams which were: Akop Payam with 5 chieftaincies, Makuac Payam with one chieftaincy, Kuanythii Payam with 4 chieftaincies, Thiet Payam with 5 chieftaincies, Ananatak Payam with 4 chieftaincies.

In general during the British Colonial period Tonj State was divided into 19 chieftaincies which make it larger than Rumbek, Gogrial and Yirol and Aweil districts of the then time. It has to be learned that Akop in Tonj was the most populated area and we had been always considered first, having a greater share in Tonj affairs.

 Now our common demand is for the creation of 5 Counties in Akop District as follows:

1. Lou Ariik County with its capital at Alabek
2. Konggor County with its capital at Aliek
3. Padoc County with its capital at Akop
4. Rualbet County with its capital at Rualbet
5. Marial-Lou County with its capital at Marial-Lou

By doing so it means we have upgraded the former colonial chieftaincies into county administrations. It is to be made clear that the aforementioned areas are now under payam administrations and we want to see them being Counties with new counties formation.

We shall remain thankful to the governor, the president and our community leaders for listening to the call of the general population in Akop District.

For Tonj State as a whole we would strongly support if the government allows our 19 payams across the region to be counties without alteration. We would not accept the suggestions of either 12 or 21 counties in Tonj State because the formula for creating such administrative units in the area is questionable. We would therefore ask the persons with such decision to first explain to us in public the method they want to apply.

Names of Chairpersons of Payams Youths Association in Akop District, headed by Akop Area Member of Parliament:

1. Kornelio Mawien Dhor /Akop Area MP
2. Ariik Ring Ariik for Alabek Payam
3. Lino Manyuon for Aliek Payam
4. Peter Machot Maruop for Akop Payam
5. Bol Machar for Rualbet Payam
6. Deng Ngang Mading for Marial-Lou Payam

Cc: H.E. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan

Cc: Maj. Gen. Akec Tong Aleu, Governor of Tonj State

Cc: National Council of States

Cc: National Legislative Assembly

Cc: Community leaders/Area Legislator

Cc: File