Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The Coordinator of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) in Bor County, Ayuen Kuer Riak, has been suspended and detained following a dispute with county authorities over the management and accountability of office assets.
The conflict, which led to the official’s arrest last Friday, centers on property donated by Catholic Relief Services (CRS), including a vehicle, laptops, and a generator. CRS, a U.S.-funded humanitarian organization, ceased its operations in Bor several months ago due to the closure of USAID programs and a subsequent lack of donor funding.
Before ending its activities, CRS handed over the assets to the Bor County RRC to support ongoing humanitarian work. However, disagreements arose after a change in RRC leadership, with growing concerns about the whereabouts and use of the donated equipment.
Bor County Commissioner Ghai Makor Leek told Sudans Post on Tuesday that the RRC coordinator, identified as Mr. Ayuen, was arrested after allegedly refusing to return government property following his suspension.
“The coordinator was suspended and asked to return the car and generator belonging to the RRC office. However, he resisted the directive, which prompted his arrest,” Commissioner Ghai said.
He added that an investigation committee had repeatedly summoned Ayuen to appear in Bor, but he failed to comply, leading to the issuance of an arrest warrant.
“An investigation committee was formed, and Ayuen was asked to come to Bor for questioning, but he refused. The committee had no option but to issue a warrant, and he was arrested in Juba, where he had relocated,” Ghai explained.
The commissioner stressed that the local government is committed to transparency and accountability, particularly in managing public and donated resources.
“He left with the vehicle, and when I asked the RRC staff in Bor, they said the car never arrived at the office. It was meant to serve the county-level operations of the RRC,” he noted.
“When I called him in Juba, he told me he was a coordinator and director and that he does not report to a county commissioner,” Ghai added.
Meanwhile, Mading Akueth, the State Chairperson of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, confirmed the coordinator’s arrest but said he had not been officially informed by either the county commissioner’s office or the local RRC.
“Yes, the coordinator has been arrested and is currently in detention. The matter is already before the court, but I’ve yet to receive any official communication from either the commissioner or the county RRC office. I only learned about it through the coordinator’s family and other sources,” Mading said.
He added that his office would release an official statement once formally notified.
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