The Governor of Upper Nile State, General James Koang Chuol, on Tuesday issued an order suspending Ulang County Commissioner Riek Gai Galuak from office.
The suspension order that this publication has seen did not give any reasons.
Gai belongs to the Federal Democratic Party (FDP), which is led by Higher Education Minister Changson Chang. The party is a member of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA).
Late last month, SPLA-IO forces and the White Army, a group of armed Nuer youth, removed the commissioner of Ulang County, ordered him to refrain from undertaking any official duties, remain in his house, and unilaterally appointed another person in his place.
The latest development comes in the wake of tensions in the region, which have led to hundreds of deaths and the displacement of thousands. The SSPDF has also been on an offensive that saw them take control of Ulang on 17 April, and most recently Nasir, on Sunday, both, without a fight, as the White Army withdrew.
After weeks of tensions and clashes, the White Army ejected the army last month, killing the SSPDF commander, Major General Majur Dak, and 27 of his soldiers on 7 March during a United Nations evacuation operation in Nasir. Tensions built up fast in Juba between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar’s SPLM/A-IO, culminating in the latter’s house arrest and detention of some of his ranking officials. The SSPDF has since been carrying out intermittent attacks on Dr. Machar’s forces, leading to several defections to the SSPDF.
Efforts to contact the suspended Commissioner Riek Gai for comment were futile.