The Deputy Governor of Upper Nile State, Hon. Deng Joh Angok, has revealed that they have lost contact with the commissioners of Nasir and Ulang counties due to the ongoing violence in the region.
He explained that the influence of local youth in both counties has left the commissioners vulnerable, and communication has been severed since the eruption of fighting in Nasir.
The Deputy Governor discussed several critical issues facing the state, including security concerns in Nasir, the state of peace among the five tribes, and the expectations for the newly appointed Governor, Gen. Koang Chuol Ranley.
Hon. Angok, who visited Nasir just a day before the outbreak of violence, emphasized that the White Army—composed primarily of former SPLM-IO members—was not integrated into military units following the peace agreement. This lack of organization, he noted, has contributed to a disregard for the law.
“What we are witnessing in Nasir and Ulang requires immediate intervention from the national government,” he said. “If these issues are not addressed urgently, there will be no lasting peace in the state.”
The Deputy Governor expressed hope that the appointment of a new governor from Nasir would foster closer cooperation between the local leadership and the community in efforts to end the fighting.
“The new governor could offer a solid solution to the problem because he hails from the area. General Koang is one of the senior military officers in Upper Nile, and he has the authority and experience to address the challenges in the region, not only in his hometown but across Upper Nile as a whole,” he added.
