The governor of Jonglei State, Dr. Riek Gai Kok, has issued a gubernatorial order directing the immediate establishment of a Jonglei State Coordination Office in the Upper Nile State capital, Malakal.
The order, issued on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, aims to enhance governmental presence and service delivery for the northern counties of Jonglei that are geographically cut off from the state headquarters in Bor.
“In the exercise of the powers conferred upon me under Article 99(2)(a) of the Transitional Constitution of Jonglei State 2011 (as amended), I Dr. Riek Gai Kok Diang, the Governor of Jonglei State, do hereby issue this Gubernatorial Order for the establishment of Jonglei State Coordination Office in Upper Nile State, Malakal, 2025 A.D.,” the order partly read.
The newly established coordination office will hold the legal status of a directorate of a state ministry.
The primary objective of the new office is to represent the Government of Jonglei State across all governmental, intra-governmental, and non-governmental affairs pertinent to the northern counties of Pigi, Fangak, Northern Ayod, and Northern Nyirol. These regions have long struggled with limited access to Bor, making essential service delivery and government interaction difficult.
The establishment of the office has been met with widespread approval from residents and local officials. Monychol Majok, a resident of Pigi County, expressed his optimism about the positive impact the office will have.
“This is a welcome development for us in Pigi and other northern counties. Being so far from Bor, it is often hard to get our voices heard and to access services,” he said. “This new office in Malakal will definitely help improve service delivery, make coordination much easier, and allow us to report issues like security concerns more effectively. It’s a big step towards bringing the government closer to the people who need it most.”
For his part, Fangak County Commissioner Johnson Kuol Gach echoed Majok’s sentiments, highlighting the benefits for the local population.
“We are very pleased with the establishment of this coordination office because it will greatly facilitate our activities and make it much easier for our people to connect with the state government,” he said. “Our people will be the biggest beneficiaries of this decision, as it will improve access to services and ensure their needs are better addressed.”
The new coordination office will operate as a department under the State Government General Secretariat. The designated coordinator of the office will be directly responsible for reporting daily operations to the Secretary General of the Government of Jonglei State, ensuring a clear line of communication and accountability.