Yei County Legislative Council Set to Resume After Year long Suspension

(Yei) – After nearly a year of inactivity, the Yei River County Legislative Council is preparing to resume its functions, restoring a critical component of local governance that has been absent due to financial constraints.

The announcement was made during the opening of a five day training program for local lawmakers organized by the Whitetiker Peace and Development Initiative and funded by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The event began on Monday, June 23, 2025.

Claudia Milla, Chairperson of the Yei Legislative Council, acknowledged that the council’s inactivity had hindered its ability to address policies and challenges affecting residents. He emphasized that the absence of the council left citizens without a voice in local governance and made it harder for the executive body to implement timely and effective measures.

“For years, the people of Yei River County were not represented by their councillors. That gap made it difficult for the executive to respond adequately to the public’s concerns,” said Milla.

He added that once the legislative body resumes operations, it will prioritize pressing issues facing the community. These include public service delivery, infrastructure, and governance reforms. Milla also stressed the need for collaboration between the executive, judiciary, and legislature to ensure coordinated service delivery.

“The county government cannot function effectively without all three arms, namely the executive, judiciary, and legislative council working together,” she said.

Yei River County Executive Director John Hillary Konga confirmed that financial challenges were the primary reason for the council’s extended dormancy.

“No county in Greater Yei has all three government pillars operating fully, but Yei is now fortunate to have its councillors returning,” Konga noted.

He assured lawmakers that the county administration is committed to officially relaunching the council within the next month. He emphasized that while funding delays had stalled the council’s operations, efforts are underway to ensure a successful reopening.

“It will take some patience to organize the relaunch properly, but we are making preparations for a formal reopening day,” Konga added.

The legislative shutdown left residents of Yei Town without representation for nearly a year. Many locals have expressed frustration over ongoing issues such as deteriorating road conditions, inadequate waste disposal systems, and lack of essential public services.