Trade and Labour Ministries Clash Over Chamber Authority in Northern Bahr el Ghazal

(AWEIL) – A dispute within Northern Bahr el Ghazal State business circles has drawn national attention after conflicting decisions by two state ministries over the leadership of the Chamber of Commerce, raising wider questions about governance and regulatory clarity in South Sudan’s private sector.

The controversy began on January 2, 2026, when the State Ministry of Labour, Public Service and Human Resource Development issued an order suspending the chairperson of the Northern Bahr el Ghazal Chamber of Commerce, Deng Makol Athian. The order directed him to vacate office and hand over documents and equipment to a newly appointed steering committee tasked with organising elections for new chamber leadership.

In the order, the Labour Ministry said it acted under powers provided by the South Sudan Workers Trade Union Act of 2023. It also announced the formation of an eleven member committee to oversee the electoral process. According to the ministry, the decision followed complaints from traders who argued that the current leadership had exceeded its mandate.

The Labour Ministry accused Deng Makol Athian of overstaying his term and mismanaging the chamber since taking office in 2020. The letter stated that his leadership term had expired and that members were being denied their constitutional right to elect and be elected. It cited Article 11 of the chamber’s constitution as the basis for calling fresh elections.

Officials said the action was informed by findings from a fact finding committee led by the State Security Adviser, Awet Kiir Aweet, which recommended intervention against the existing leadership structure.

However, the suspension was quickly challenged by the State Ministry of Trade, Mining and Industry. In a separate letter, the Trade Ministry declared the Labour Ministry’s decision null and void, arguing that it lacked legal authority over the Chamber of Commerce.

The Trade Ministry stated that the chamber operates under its own constitution and internal regulations, which clearly define procedures for leadership discipline and elections. It added that oversight of the Chamber of Commerce falls exclusively under the mandate of the Ministry of Trade, Mining and Industry, not the Ministry of Labour.

The ministry further warned that any action taken outside these procedures could undermine the legality of future elections and weaken confidence in state institutions that regulate business activity.

Deng Makol Athian, who was appointed as chairperson by former national minister Benjamin Bol Mel, has previously faced political scrutiny. In the past, he was briefly detained amid allegations of links to opposition figure and former army chief Paul Malong Awan, before later being released during the administration of former governor Tong Aken Ngor.

The current standoff has exposed divisions within Northern Bahr el Ghazal’s business community and created uncertainty for traders and investors operating in the state. Business leaders say prolonged institutional disputes risk disrupting commercial coordination and advocacy at a time when South Sudan is seeking to improve its investment climate.

It remains unclear whether the Labour Ministry’s suspension order will be enforced or overturned as the disagreement between the two ministries continues.

Northern Bahr el Ghazal Chamber of Commerce Faces Unclear Future