(JUBA) – The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) has announced a series of reinstatements and new appointments of County Commissioners across different states in South Sudan.
The decision was made by Rt. Hon. Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, the Acting Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of SPLM/SPLA-IO, who also serves as the First Deputy Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly. The appointments, signed on 17 August 2025, were carried out in line with the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and relevant constitutional provisions.
The SPLM-IO leadership explained that the changes are guided by Article 1.3, Article 1.5–10, and Article 1.16 of the peace agreement, as well as the Local Government Act of 2009. These provisions outline the structures of the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) and powers of appointment and reinstatement at state and county levels.
Under the announcement, several commissioners who had previously served in office were reinstated. At the same time, new acting commissioners were appointed in selected counties to strengthen local government structures.
The reinstatements include:
| Commissioner | County | State |
|---|---|---|
| Hon. James Gatluak Lew Thiep | Nasir County | Upper Nile State |
| Hon. Dak Tut Dei | Lungechuk County | Upper Nile State |
| Hon. Biel Butrus Biel | Fangak County | Jonglei State |
| Hon. David Lisi Christoper | Kajokeji County | Central Equatoria State |
| Hon. George Wani | Terekeka County | Central Equatoria State |
| Hon. Abdalla Lokeno | Kapoeta East County | Eastern Equatoria State |
SPLM-IO emphasised that these changes are intended to ensure stability, effective administration, and adherence to power-sharing principles outlined in the revitalised peace deal.
The announcement was copied to Dr Riek Machar Teny, the First Vice President, and Hon. Regina Joseph Kappa, among other officials, as part of the implementation process.
