Machar proposed relocation of Makal county to Wau Shilluk – Lomoro

JUBA – South Sudan’s minister of cabinet affairs Martin Elia Lomoro has accused First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar of proposing the relocation of Makal County from Upper Nile state’s capital Malakal to Wau Shilluk.

Last week, a meeting chaired by Machar and attended by Lomoro, the governor of Upper Nile state governor Abudhok Ayang and his deputy Tor Monybuny resolved the relocation of Makal county headquarters to Wau Shilluk.

The decision sparked public outcry with activists accusing Machar of betraying the Shilluk people for accepting relocation of Makal county spearheaded by President Salva Kiir Mayardit.

“The resolution of the meeting was released by them; the governor, his deputy, his [Budhok] chairman Dr. Riek Machar who chaired the meeting,” Lomoro is quoted by Eye Radio as saying.

“Nothing that was reached was of any individual conclusion. Actually, it was Riek Machar who in the end proposed that, yes, add the centre to be in Wau-Shilluk,” he added.

However, Upper Nile governor Abudhok instead accused Lomoro of proposing the decision and further said the decision should be left to citizens of Makal county.

“Dr. Elia Lomoro said the headquarters of Makal County should be Wau-Shilluk Payam, and Wau-Shilluk is one of the Payams in Makal,” he said.

“In my view, the headquarters of the County…is the responsibility of the people in the area, but not the responsibility of anyone else,” he added.