Amer Ateny Alier, speaker of the Jonglei State Legislative Assembly, has denounced her eviction from a government-rented residence in Bor and accused Governor Riek Gai Kok of sidelining her from state affairs amid an escalating political dispute.
Alier, a member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO), is a close ally of detained First Vice President Riek Machar. She was appointed speaker in 2021 by President Salva Kiir.
“There have been many issues in Jonglei since Riek Gai became governor in March,” Alier told Radio Tamazuj in an interview. “Last month, I was evicted from my residence over unpaid rent. During Governor Mahjoub Biel’s tenure, the state rented me a house in Block 2 of Bor.”
According to Alier, she personally paid six months of rent from November 2024 to April 2025 using a $1,200 loan from local traders and $600 in financial support from her brother. But no rent was paid from April through August, leading to her eviction.
“The monthly rent was $300. The $1,200 I borrowed was at a 30% interest rate. From November 2024 to August 2025, the total outstanding amount owed to the traders, including unpaid rent, is $5,000,” she said.
Alier also accused Governor Riek Gai of intentionally excluding her from state affairs and attempting to damage her political standing.
“This is humiliation aimed at destroying me politically,” she said. “My children were thrown out of the house like dogs, yet the governor stays in a hotel. A $300 monthly rent is affordable for the government—they just want to humiliate me.”
She added that the governor has blocked her from meeting him since his appointment and has disregarded the parliament’s oversight role.
“I was not even allowed to speak during his welcoming ceremony in Bor. He greeted everyone but ignored me. I believe this is related to my political differences with former Governor Denay Jock Chagor, who is a relative of his.”
The row escalated after the state SPLM under Governor Riek Gai issued a statement on Aug. 3 accusing Alier of alleging the governor sexually harassed her. The party demanded an apology or threatened legal action.
Alier, however, denied making any such accusation.
“What happened at an earlier event was that the governor commented that my dress looked nice. I responded jokingly, asking whether I should give it to his wife. I later apologized for the joke, and I don’t understand why it’s being brought up again,” she said. “This is not just about me—it’s an attack on women’s dignity and a violation of our 35% affirmative action representation.”
Civil society activist Ter Manyang Gatwech, executive director of the Center for Peace and Advocacy, called the feud troubling and urged political cooperation in the state.
“There has never been collaboration among political leaders since Denay Chagor’s governorship. I think this is a political strategy by the SPLM to sideline opponents,” Gatwech said. “If the governor truly wants peace, he must work with other leaders.”
Repeated calls to Governor Riek Gai and acting SPLM state secretary general David Anyang went unanswered. The governor’s press secretary, Manath Gany, said he was attending a workshop.