(YEI RIVER COUNTY) – Authorities in Yei River County have formed a committee to prepare for the reception of the county’s newly appointed caretaker commissioner, Emmanuel Taban Seme.
The new Executive Director of Yei River County, Hillary Lokudu Muhammed, welcomed members of the committee and urged them to work together in organising the reception.
The committee is expected to coordinate preparations and other arrangements ahead of the commissioner’s arrival in the county.
County authorities have not yet officially announced the date of the reception.
The appointment of Taban Seme was announced by Central Equatoria State Caretaker Governor Augustino Jadalla Kamilo Wani on Thursday, 1st October 2026, according to Access Radio Yei News. The governor named caretaker commissioners for all six counties in the state, alongside a new caretaker mayor and three deputy mayors for Juba City Council.
Taban Seme previously served as Commissioner of Yei River County before his term ended in March 2026 through a presidential decree. He was among three commissioners relieved of their duties at that time, alongside Robert John Morris of Lainya County and Charles Data Bullen of Morobo County.
He has now been sworn in to lead the people of Yei River County, according to the Office of the Commissioner.
Residents of Yei Town have welcomed the appointment while calling for his immediate deployment to address growing insecurity in the area. Access Radio Yei News reported on 30th September 2026 that community members urged the state governor to expedite the deployment so the commissioner can begin restoring law and order.
Johnson Poru Hillary, a resident of Yei Town, said the absence of county leadership had created a vacuum that contributed to security challenges.
“In regard to what is happening now in Yei, it’s what we did not expect. There are a lot of insecurity incidents and we had a power vacuum. There is a need for intervention and I request the caretaker governor to send the commissioner to counter some of these emerging problems we are having in our county,” he said.
Sultan Kenyi Elisha John, an area headman in Hai Peace, also stressed the need for a speedy deployment.
“There was a power vacuum in Yei and following this vacuum, Yei recorded many security challenges, including road ambushes and the killing of a secondary school student in the Luparate area. We know Yei River County is one of the hotspot areas and we want a speedy installation and deployment of the commissioner on the ground,” he said.
Modi Arkangelo, Head of the Yei Civil Society Forum, urged the state government to ensure the commissioner assumes office without further delay.
“The commissioner is the chairperson of security at the county level and we want to call on the state governor to urgently send the commissioner to Yei by next week to carry out his administration in the county. The process of his deployment should be done quickly to rectify the leadership challenges on the ground,” Arkangelo said.
The new Executive Director, Hillary Lokudu Muhammed, was officially welcomed to the county in August 2026, with local leaders calling for unity, improved service delivery and accelerated development. He pledged to lead with transparency and dignity, and encouraged citizens and public servants to share ideas aimed at improving services.
Radio Tamazuj reported in September 2026 that police in Yei River County recorded three deaths in separate incidents over one weekend, including two suspected suicide cases and a lightning strike that killed an 11 year old girl.
Authorities said suspected suicide cases have increased in Yei since the beginning of the year due to economic hardships, unemployment and drug abuse.
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