A group of local businesswomen took to the streets in Bor town of Jonglei State Monday to protest against the appointment of Samuel Ateny Pech as the new commissioner of Bor County.

Last week, President Salva Kiir Mayardit appointed Mr Ateny, a former mayor of Bor town, as the new commissioner of Bor County, replacing James Tuor Kur.

Mr Ateny was first removed by the state governor from his position as the Bor town mayor following a rising tension between the Bor municipality and local businesswomen who accused the municipal authority of allotting their land meant for a market to investors.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj from Bor town, several protesters said they took to the street to protest against Mr Ateny’s appointment as the new county commissioner.

 “When Ateny was the mayor, he took our land and sold it. Our Almighty God had him sacked but now he is back again as a commissioner. We don’t want this man,” said Dorcus Ateny, one of the protesters.

Another angry protester, who preferred anonymity, said: “We are widows of the liberation war who survive by selling vegetables. For the past four months, we have not enjoyed any peace because we were evicted and left to languish on the streets. Why did Akech Dengdit (deputy governor) bring back Ateny? All of them must go.”

Abuk Deng, another protester, said they would continue protesting until the appointment of the new commissioner of Bor County is revoked. “Our fear is that Ateny being a commissioner of Bor means we will be evicted again. We don’t want that and we will not back down on our rights,” she said.

Efforts to reach the state government spokesperson and the newly appointed county commissioner were futile.