The governor of South Sudan’s Upper Nile state has suspended the commissioner of Maiwut County, according to an official order issued Wednesday.
Lt. Gen. James Koang Chuol Ranley issued Gubernatorial Order No. 20/2025, suspending Commissioner Ler Jock Thoan with immediate effect. The order cited Article 98 of the state’s transitional constitution and a March presidential decree as the legal basis for the action.
The order, dated Sept. 3, did not provide specific reasons for the suspension. It came shortly after the conclusion of a three-day forum of county commissioners held in Malakal, the state capital.
Thoan could not be reached for comment. It remains unclear whether the suspension is temporary or part of a disciplinary process.
Peter Ngwojo, the state’s information minister, told Radio Tamazuj on Thursday that the decision came as a surprise, though it may be related to administrative issues in Maiwut.
“The commissioner was attending the commissioners’ forum with us and presented a paper as Maiwut commissioner in which he explained the challenges facing his county. His presentation was very good, in which he laid out the problems facing his county,” Ngwojo said.
However, Ngwojo added the suspension could be linked to instability in the area, including recent clashes between the South Sudanese army and opposition forces.
“I don’t have more information about what led to his suspension, but I received information that the commissioner had been suspended,” he said.
Asked whether Thoan had been detained, Ngwojo said the commissioner remained at his residence and had not been arrested.
“There are social media reports that he has been arrested, but until now I can say there is nothing as such,” he said. “He is free, like the rest of the commissioners who were suspended before. If there is evidence, it will be the governor to give directives for arrest or detention, and not security operatives to act on their own,” he said.
Commenting on social media posts alleging that Thoan was in communication with opposition elements via WhatsApp, Ngwojo said the commissioner had personally raised concerns with him at the commissioners’ forum.
“The commissioner also approached me and complained that there are some individuals in South Sudan and Ethiopia who are spreading unfounded information and leveling false accusations against him,” Ngwojo said. “I informed him to go and open a case against those who are making defamatory statements about him.”
“But I can confirm that I am not aware of circulating information on social media about the suspended commissioner,” he added.
Two relatives of the suspended commissioner reached by Radio Tamazuj declined to comment on whether he had been arrested or remained free.
Mathiang, the headquarters of Maiwut County, witnessed violence on Monday in which at least 20 people were killed during clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and opposition forces from the SPLA-IO.
Upper Nile state, located in northeastern South Sudan, has experienced political and security tensions this year, particularly following clashes in Nasir County between government forces and armed youth known as the White Army militia.