Eastern Equatoria State Governor Louis Lobong Lojore on Friday swore in a new caretaker commissioner for Torit County and reappointed Matthew Oromo Morris as chief administrator of Imehejek Administrative Area, saying the changes were intended to improve governance and address security-related administrative challenges.
The appointments were made through separate gubernatorial decrees issued in July and August.
Eddy William Ponsiano Boyle was sworn in as caretaker commissioner of Torit County under Gubernatorial Decree No. 14/2026, dated July 15, while Matthew Oromo Morris was reappointed chief administrator of Imehejek Administrative Area under Gubernatorial Decree No. 17/2026, dated Aug. 5.
Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony in Torit, Lobong said Morris was returning to a position he had previously held before being replaced by Lino Attari Obiong. Obiong was removed from office on Aug. 5, the governor said.
Lobong said the decision followed consultations with community leaders and political representatives after authorities concluded that the previous administration had struggled to effectively govern parts of Imehejek because of security concerns.
He said tensions had limited access to areas including Tennet, Loming and Locharok, making it difficult for the administrator to engage communities and deliver services.
“You cannot lead people when you cannot visit all the places. I cannot be a governor of Eastern Equatoria when I cannot visit other counties,” Lobong said.
He said the changes were aimed at improving governance rather than punishing individuals.
Lobong also explained that Boyle’s appointment followed the removal of the previous Torit County commissioner after consultations with the official’s political party.
The governor said concerns had been raised over the handling of official duties, including a government mission that failed because of disagreements among participants. He said the government would appoint a substantive commissioner after further consultations.
Boyle pledged to prioritize security and work closely with communities to maintain peace.
“The most important thing is security. If you fail in security, your name is damaged. No commissioner can be successful if his people are not cooperating with him,” he said.
He warned that authorities would take legal action against individuals involved in criminal activities while urging residents to cooperate with law enforcement instead of taking the law into their own hands.
“We shall do the right thing. All criminals, we shall arrest them. We need a peaceful community in Eastern Equatoria,” Boyle said.
SPLM Eastern Equatoria State Secretary Akileo Mboya Peter Anyanga congratulated the two officials and urged them to promote peace, strengthen security and prepare their communities for South Sudan’s planned elections.
“You have to secure your area, unite your people, and prepare your communities for the forthcoming elections,” he said.
The appointments come as Eastern Equatoria, like other parts of South Sudan, continues to face security and governance challenges ahead of the country’s planned elections.
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