Skip to main content

Open Letter to the Magwi County Commissioner, Hon. Lam Francis Gabriel

Dear Commissioner,

“When you cross a stream, and suddenly the frogs go silent after you, you are either being followed by danger or expecting danger ahead.” This is an African proverb often used as a warning. You are finally in a hotter seat that will test your leadership strength. Anyway, you are welcome.

Hon. Lam, the people expected a change in leadership, and no one knew you would be the one. However, the celebrations that broke out across towns and villages in the county signify a great welcome and approval of you. But is there really a need to celebrate a change in leadership? The adage in the first line is a call to always remember.

Few will understand that the seat you have inherited is too hot to be overly optimistic. There are several boiling points to settle, if not in the short run, then in the near future, for you to progress well. Dear Commissioner, you have come at a time when the security of the country is at stake. Opposition forces have engaged all networks and are ready to storm every county to bring the government to its knees. Eastern Equatoria is not exempt from this conflict, including Magwi County. This is the moment when danger lies ahead, and you should prepare to confront it.

Hon. Commissioner, before you officially kick-start the implementation of any development plan for Magwi, kindly lend a listening ear to the citizens. Go to the ground and find out what they expect of you before you exhaust yourself. Meet with all stakeholders, let them develop their own strategies, and relate these to your responsibilities so as to win the hearts of your people. If you keep in touch with them daily, you will survive the dangers that may follow you.

Not only that, Hon. Commissioner, good leadership demands inclusivity. Few who have been in this office have shown true leadership by including every son and daughter of Magwi County in the system. Although you are governing on the SPLM party ticket, consider that a party is not superior to the people. Therefore, together with your councillors, where necessary, include staff in your offices based on merit.

No doubt, this letter also reminds you of the resources of the county. With the relative peace that Magwi County enjoys, may you open wider doors for transparent investment. With favourable terms, engage companies and firms to move into the county to put resources into proper utilisation. This will create jobs for unemployed youth and promote development.

Hon. Commissioner, you have gone through danger, and you should expect danger, but your stand with the people will frustrate every attempt to destabilise your leadership. Even if some of us are not members of the SPLM, we will support you based on your competence and dedication to the citizens. Count our voices as a blessing to your leadership.

Felicitations and welcome!

Abunerry, Ayella

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A NEW ERA FOR NIMULE: Appreciation for the Mayor's Efforts.

HW: Hon. Fuli Caesar.   Nimule Bylaw... a great development.  4th Sept. 2025 In March, the state government designated Nimule Town Council as a municipal council. This move sparked mixed reactions among the community; some supported it while others opposed it. As a long-time resident of Nimule, I understand the complexities of this decision. Building on this development, I'd like to share my perspective on the town's progress. With over twenty years of living in Nimule, I've witnessed many issues that have hindered the town's progress. Previous leaders implemented policies that failed to drive real improvement. They collected taxes, but tangible benefits and developments within the town remained in the grave. I've contributed to the town's development through voluntary clean-ups with some youth groups (ICYA, YPCC) and advocacy efforts, calling for bylaws to protect local businesses and residents from exploitation.   However, with your leadership, Your Worshi...
Post a Comment
Read more

UNMASKING THE RED BELT: Community Defense or Security Threats

WHY IS EQUATORIA MENTIONED? September 2, 2025 Many South Sudanese tribes have vigilante groups, particularly in cattle-keeping communities. Based on their mandates, it is clear that each group aims to protect and defend its community from neighbouring raiders. Communities like the Dinka, Nuer, and Murle have such groups, and their long-standing conflicts over resources suggest this is a survival mechanism. From my experience, South Sudan's community insecurity worsened in 2017 when the economy collapsed due to unresolved civil conflicts. Youths formed groups with different names, such as the Toronto, West Coasts, Black Mambas, and Invincible Scorpions, in Juba and other major cities. In Nimule, many of these youths brought ideas from Juba's Sherikat suburb after escaping arrest or internal disputes. Today, gangs are widespread in major towns and cities.   Recently, the Red Belt group emerged in Bor, disrupting a peaceful tournament and attacking the National Security Servic...
Post a Comment
Read more

DO NOT JOIN STAR INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY MAGWI CAMPUS UNTIL IT FULLY ESTABLISHES ITS OWN STUDY CENTRE

Between 2017 and 2019, I wrote several articles about the fraudulent practices of Kampala University. Those who were its students were aggressively defensive, only to concede later. This happened after the Ministry of Higher Education declared the university illegal. Although the students pursued a legal case against the university, they sadly lost. Education is a right for everyone, but a learning institution should provide quality and legitimate services to the public. In South Sudan, several universities and colleges are operating illegally and exploiting poor students. On 22 June 2026, Star International University (SIU) launched one of its campuses in Magwi Payam, making it the second campus after the Nimule campus, which was established around 2021–2022. Accordingly, this could be the third campus in Eastern Equatoria, including the Torit campus. Such rapid expansion raises serious questions about the credibility of the university. A credible learning institution cannot spread i...
2 comments
Read more