Civilians in Bor town demonstrate against the appointment of Samuel Ateny Pech as the new commissioner of Bor. | Photo: Bol Deng Bol.

Residents of Bor town on Monday staged a peaceful demonstration demanding revocation of the appointment of Samuel Ateny Pech Ariik, the former mayor of Bor Municipality, as Commissioner of Bor County.

The protestors mainly women and youth said the former mayor was involved in an alleged land grabbing in the state capital.

On March 27, 2023, Jonglei State governor Denay Jock Chagor issued an order dismissing Ateny Pech as the Mayor of Bor town amid wrangles over land reportedly leased to investors in the state capital.

A week later, Ateny Pech was appointed by President Salva Kiir as the Commissioner of Bor County in a cabinet reshuffle announced last Thursday on the State-run television SSBC.

On Monday morning, the protesters took to the streets in Bor town holding posters calling for the removal of Commissioner Ateny Pech and the Deputy Governor Akec Deng.

Samuel Ateny as earlier denied the allegations, saying the traders lost ownership of the disputed land after their five-year agreement with the municipality expired.

On his part, the Chairperson for Jonglei State Civil Society Network Bol Deng Bol said the civilians feel like the former mayor is coming back to the land that they successfully claimed.

“They feel like he is coming back to try to take their land and mistreat them again so this is why they have come to the street now and they do not want Ateny Pech to be sworn in they want him out,” Bol told Eye Radio.

“They also want the deputy governor Hon. Akec out because they [protestors] feel he is siding with Ateny Pech and some of them feel there are people who support Ateny Pech and Akec Dengdit in Juba and that these are the people who recommend them always to the President irrespective of the fact that they are not delivering service as expected.”

In a footage shared with Eye Radio, Jonglei State Police Commissioner Maj. Gen. Elia Costa is seen urging the protestors to exercise patience.