Eastern Equatoria State Governor Louis Lobong Lojore has suspended Torit County Commissioner Lokang Charles Italian indefinitely and appointed Torit Municipality Mayor Eddy William Ponsiano Boyle as caretaker commissioner, according to gubernatorial decrees issued on Wednesday.
The governor announced the changes in two separate decrees, with Boyle assuming the role with immediate effect.
The suspension decree cited the governor’s constitutional powers under Republican Decree No. 51/2020 and Article 99(2)(j) of the Transitional Constitution of Eastern Equatoria State, 2011. No reason was given for the suspension.
The move comes as residents and civil society groups have urged state authorities to take stronger action to tackle insecurity, intercommunal violence and recurring road ambushes in Torit County.
Margret Itiara, secretary-general of the Torit County Women Association, welcomed Boyle’s appointment and called on him to prioritize peace and reconciliation in violence-hit communities.
“We really want him to settle things down and make peace. We need peace as women. We are really crying,” Itiara told Radio Tamazuj.
She urged the caretaker commissioner to visit affected areas, including Murra and Tirangora, and engage communities to help resolve recurring conflicts and improve security along roads linking the settlements.
Civil society activist Ohide Gabriel of the Women Initiative for Humanitarian Development Organization (WHIDO) said lasting peace would require addressing the underlying causes of communal tensions rather than reacting to isolated incidents.
He urged the county administration to convene consultations involving traditional leaders, women, youth and representatives of communities affected by the violence.
“The new commissioner has to find the root cause and try to solve this issue, because without solving community tensions, there is no way we can think we are going to be in peace,” Gabriel said.
Gabriel also raised concerns over worsening security on roads linking Torit with Hiyala, Murra and Tirangora, saying repeated attacks had curtailed freedom of movement.
He called on the government to provide greater logistical support to security forces and local peace initiatives, saying resource constraints had hindered efforts to restore stability.
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