KUAJOK — Authorities in Kuajok, the capital of South Sudan’s Warrap State, have begun efforts to properly install electricity poles and wires to prevent fire incidents caused by faulty electrical connections.
The initiative comes after several past fire outbreaks, which officials attributed to poorly erected poles and unsafe wiring in the town’s main market area.
Mr. Mayom Dut Malek, Director of Disaster Management in the Directorate of Civil Defense, convened a meeting on Monday with Kuajok Town Mayor John Maluil Ajing and key traders who operate private generators supplying electricity to the market. The meeting focused on strengthening safety measures and ensuring proper electrical installations.
“I have called this meeting to engage both local and foreign traders on the need to use strong poles and proper wiring to prevent disasters caused by fire outbreaks,” Malek said. “Electricity can be dangerous when supply is high or when cables are weak. It can cause loss of life and property if not properly managed.”
Mayor Maluil, who also serves as Deputy Director for Hygiene in Kuajok, said the town council will conduct assessments in all shops to ensure electrical systems are safely installed.
“There must be changeovers where necessary. Weak poles and loose wires will be replaced or repaired,” he said. “We will also address hygiene issues in the market because many people live and eat there.”
Local traders, including Donbosco Chamba and Gabriel Ariik Mawien, who supply electricity to the market using generators, welcomed the move but urged authorities to monitor how electricity is handled in the market.
Ariik warned that some traders and transporters risk electrocution when they move goods under low-hanging wires or attempt to fix electrical faults on their own.
“Some people cross the market with overloaded goods that touch the wires, causing damage to the power supply,” Ariik said. “Others try to repair electrical lines themselves instead of waiting for trained technicians, which often results in blackouts or accidents.”
Authorities and traders agreed that improper power supply and poor maintenance have long posed safety risks in Kuajok’s market. Power cuts and minor electrical accidents remain common in many parts of the town, where most residents prioritize essential commodities such as food over electricity.
