Residents Urge New Yei Commissioner to Prioritize Security and Service Delivery

(YEI RIVER COUNTY) – Residents of Yei town are appealing to the newly appointed commissioner of Yei River County Samuel Malimo Batali to prioritize peace, security, service delivery and development projects across the county’s five Payams.

According to the residents, security, service delivery and development programs have remained stagnant since the outbreak of conflict in 2016.

Medina Kiden, a resident of Sobe area, said insecurity characterized by nighttime attacks, highway abductions, robbery, cattle raids, and targeted killings continues to affect reconciliation and peaceful coexistence in Yei River County.

“Yei River County has not been at peace for many years since 2016. People are attacked in their homes at night, while humanitarian workers and civilians are abducted, especially in rural payams. Many people still live in fear when moving between villages and the town. All this can end only if there is good security and stability in Yei River County,” she said.

Meanwhile, Peter Salah, a resident of Tore Payam, welcomed the appointment of the new commissioner but called for improved service delivery during his term in office.

“In Tore, we do not have a functional health center. There are no health workers, no medicines, and the facility is closed. We also lack good schools, teachers, boreholes, and clean drinking water for our children and women. We want the new commissioner to understand the challenges affecting people in all the five payams and provide solutions to issues facing people in the villages,” he said.

Moses Khamis, another resident from Wuluturu area, thanked the outgoing commissioner for his contributions to the county and urged the new commissioner to continue the ongoing development projects.

“The infrastructure, especially bridges and roads, is in poor condition. We want the rehabilitation of Wuluturu Bridge completed and the poor road network in Yei town graded. We also want the quick restoration of the Yei Electricity Corporation (YECO) and other development projects started by the outgoing commissioner, Emmanuel Taban Seme,” he said.

Awate Rose, a resident of Kanjoro neighborhood, also welcomed the new changes at both the county and state levels. She appealed to the incoming commissioner to improve the deteriorating image of Yei town.

“The well-known ‘Yei Small London’ is no longer clean. The roads are bad, buildings in the town are old, and there is no electricity. Together with the new commissioner, we want the poor image of Yei town to be transformed into a clean and developing city so that Yei can regain its old glory and famous name, ‘Yei Small London,’” she said.

The newly appointed county commissioners are yet to be sworn into office in Juba before being dispatched to their respective county headquarters.

President Salva Kiir Mayardit issued an executive order reshuffling state ministers, advisors, and county commissioners in a presidential decree on Sunday evening.

Some senior officials in Central Equatoria State welcomed the changes, describing them as routine government adjustments aimed at improving service delivery and governance across the state.