Charles Joseph Wani - Commissioner of Juba County, CES - Credit: Moses Awan/EyeRadio -Dec. 21, 2022

Juba county traditional chiefs have welcomed the commissioner’s order to hand over the Bari Community Center to them after suspending the Bari association last week.

In an order dated 23^rd of February 2023, obtained by Eye Radio, Charles Josepha Wani directed the closure of the Bari Association, accusing its members of having caused disorder during Late Alfred Keri Yoke’s memorial prayers last week.

On a separate note, Commissioner Wani directed the Boma Executive Chiefs and the Head of Chiefs of the Payams to organize their communities.

In reaction, some of the chiefs welcomed the decision, saying they have suffered at the hands of the local politicians.

“We as chiefs are suffering from the sickness of the politicians. We have decided that this time chiefs must be in charge of BC and under its management till further notice,” Angelo Laku Lino, the Acting Paramount Chief of Juba County said.

“Chiefs have to take off and be in charge of this BC office, we are their fathers, and all this nation is under our responsibility even if your governor or president, and this is not logical for those who are saying chiefs are only members of BC,

“We withdraw our trust from them until we rearrange BC as chiefs, and they will come and take it over, and inshallah today or tomorrow we will take it.”

“We have right here, they are our candidates, and we are chiefs, let them go back and this one cannot work,” said the head chef of Lado Payam, Beda Lino.

However, on 24th February 2023, the Chairman of Bari Community, Stephen Pitia Laku issued a response describing the decision by Juba County as politically motivated.

Laku who refuted the allegations said the commissioner’s order is unconstitutional and the association will continue to operate.