SPLA-IO Accused of Detaining Civilian Boats, Demanding $4,000 Along Sobat River ‎

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‎ Boat ferrying civilians  Nasir, Upper Nile State  ‎Authorities in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, have accused forces loyal to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army In Opposition (SPLA-IO) of detaining civilian riverboats and demanding ransom-like payments of up to $4,000 from traders and passengers along the Sobat River. ‎ ‎According to Nasir County Commissioner James Gatwech Joak, several boats traveling from Matar in Nasir County to Malakal were intercepted by SPLA-IO soldiers in Yakuach, an area in Nyirol County, Jonglei State. ‎ ‎“Our traders paid local taxes to SPLA-IO in Mandeng before setting off. But on reaching Yakuach, they were detained again and told to pay an additional four thousand U.S. dollars,” Commissioner Gatwech said. ‎ ‎He explained that the detained boat operators and traders were reportedly held for four days while armed men demanded more payments.  ‎ Some of the passengers were women, children, and patients traveling for medical treatment in Malaka...

South Sudan President Office Defends The Sacking Of Oil And Petroleum Minister


Hon. Ezekiel Gatkuoth was sacked by South Sudan President while on a trip abroad but the office of the President said the sacking was just a normal routine. 
The president’s spokesman Ateny Wek told Radio Tamazuj on Thursday that Kiir’s decision to remove Ezekiel was informed by need to appoint a new minister.
Ateny Wek the President spokesman said that “These are normal routine changes that happen.”
The Spokesman of the president further added that ” He [Ezekiel] was supposed to return from the official mission to Russia but he delayed. The former minister’s trip to Nigeria had nothing to do with his job, after the Economic Forum in Russia ended, he went to Nairobi and then to Nigeria for a private mission.” 
Mr. Ateny Wek further reiterated that the president has all the powers to remove and appoint government officials and it must not be questioned.  
South Sudan President Decree gave no reason for the sacking of the former Oil and Petroleum Minister nor was there any signs of him to be sacked.  
Mr. Ezekiel Gatkuoth was replaced immediately by Awou D. Chuang was the director general at the petroleum ministry.  
Questions still remain. On how the first vice president will take the sacking of his strong ally Hon. Ezekiel. Only time will tell.  
South Sudan currently pumps roughly around 175,000 barrels of oil per day which most of it will be used to finance the construction of roads by the Chinese company.  

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