yei river county

Geographical Background

Yei River County is a Local Government Council as defined by the South Sudan Local Government Act, 2009. Yei River County was established as a District in accordance with the Local Government Ordinance of 1933 under the British Condominium Rule in the then Sudan. In 1982 it was further split into Yei River District and Kajo-Keji District respectively and again in February 14, 2004, it was divided into Lainya and Morobo County. As was the case during the Condominium Rule Heads of the Districts were appointed with the tittles of District Commissioners. Although the Local Government Act, 2009 requires that the County Commissioners are elected, the current political trends do not allow Local Government elections to take place and therefore County Commissioners are appointed by Republican Decrees. Local Government Councils are the third tiers of Government in the Republic of South Sudan under which they are structured as County, City and Municipal Councils. County Councils are rural Local Governments with structures of Payams as intermediary Council and Bomas as the lowest level of Government. As of now, Yei River County has five Payams and twenty-three Bomas. A Payam is administered by an appointed Payam Administrator/Director responsible for the Administration of the Payam while Head Chiefs manage the affairs of the Customary Law Council at the Boma level. Yei River County borders the Democratic Republic of Congo to the West and is connected through Lasu Payam whereas internally it borders Western Equatoria State to the North; Lainya County to the East and Morobo County to the South. Yei is historically an agricultural land where coffee among other cash crops is grown. Relative peace and security prevail in Yei hence favorable for businesses to flourish.

Local Context

Co-existence is a key defining factor that drives peace, harmony and livelihood development in Yei. This is guaranteed by the prevailing justice system that is built from customary law practic-es that determine economic production and acceptance of cultural diversity. Another uniqueness of Yei is weather patterns and favorable climatic conditions e.g. the rains (appr. 10 months of rain and only 2 dry). It is a tropical rain forest and average sunny weather of eight hours per day. It is also endowed with natural resources such as mountains; non-seasonal rivers, streams and swamps; wild life, minerals, forest reserves and other unidentified resources. The Customary Law practices are characterised by respect, hardworking, tolerance, hospitality, promotion and protection of fundamental civic rights and freedoms of each individual who is associated with the people or alien.

The people of Yei are light skinned with an average height of 1.5-1.88 meters. The indigenous tribes and local languages are Kakwa which is dominant and Adio, Avokaya, Baka Mundu, Keliko, Pojulu. In Yei, the common conventional languages are Arabic, English, Kiswahili, Lingala. Farming is the main economic activity which is a taboo although there are few domestic animals being reared for feeding, cultural festivals and marriages.

Commissioner of Yei River County officiated the Handover and Re-opening of Rwonyi Boma PHCU

I am grateful to the German Government, Maltser International HQS in Colon and South Sudan Country Office. I want to extend the compliments of the people and government of Yei River County of the Republic of South Sudan to the German people and government for picking an interest to select our destroyed healthcare services and infrastructures for funding in addition yet to their support to Yei Town Water and Sanitation Services.
As people and government of Yei River County we honor and respect your contributions that we have received and the consequent impact in reduction of child and maternal morbidity and mortality rate.
I am also grateful to the Governments of Central Equatoria State and Republic of South Sudan especially the support of H.E Emmanuel Adil Anthony wani, Governor of Central Equatoria State and Ministries of Health of both governments.
Improving healthcare services and prevention of disease infections do not require conventional efforts but rather require community level approach that creates comprehensive community level engagements and instigate robust public concerns and citizens care in preventing public and environmental disease infections.
I urge the community of Rwonyi Boma to advance their show of commitment to community contributions as shown today in order to influence sustainable ownership of healthcare services and attract more support to healthcare gaps.
Healthcare should not be managed in isolation but should be undertaken equally by increasing food production, clean management of our environment, improving the infrastructure and creating opportunities for health education. It is important that our communities participate actively in all those complementary activities in order to overcome health challenges.
Construction of Rwonyi PHCU is one of the County efforts to reduce congestion in the OPD at Yei Civil Hospital which registered a record of attending to 165,000 patients per month last year. We have rehabilitated and opened Gimunu PHCU and completing rehabilitation of Luparate PHCC and Kegulu PHCU in order to supplement healthcare services burdens.
I am therefore encouraging all the people of Yei River County to take full responsibilities and ownership of healthcare and safety of their families and loved ones in order to avert unnecessary disease infections and deaths of especially children and women.

REVITALISED TRANSITIONAL COUNTY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LAUNCHING CEREMONY HELD ON 1ST SEPTEMBER, 2022,

Hon. Aggrey Cyrus Kanyikwa, Commissioner Yei River County marked the opening of the Revitalized Transitional County Legislative Council of Yei River County.

In the occasion, Hon. Kanyikwa extended his thanks to the President of the Republic of South Sudan H.E Salva Kiir Mayardit for making such tough decisions to dialogue with all the opposition forces that rebelled against the government and reached to this agreement.
As people and government of Yei River County we honor and respect your contributions that we have received and the consequent impact in reduction of child and maternal morbidity and mortality rate.
Hon. Kanyikwa, also thanked all the Opposition Parties that were involved in the negotiations of the R-ARCSS especially the SPLM IO Leader, H.E Dr. Rick Machar Teny, the 1st Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan
The Commissioner further said "the people of Yei River County expect to see hope, peaceful coexistence and prosperity from the Revitalized Transitional County Legislative Council." The County is expected to work hard together with Hon. Commissioner, County Executive Council in order to create avenues for safety, law and order.
During today's opening of the Revitalized Transitional Legislative Council in Yei River County, Hon. Commissioner Aggrey Cyrus Kanyikwa cited the occasion as an opportunity provided to the people of Yei by the peace agreement on the Resolutions of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
Healthcare should not be managed in isolation but should be undertaken equally by increasing food production, clean management of our environment, improving the infrastructure and creating opportunities for health education. It is important that our communities participate actively in all those complementary activities in order to overcome health challenges.
"It is the R-ARCSS that has shown us the path for new beginning and rediscovery of our past mistakes that could be reshaped and transformed into a sustainable peace," said Kanyikwa.
The Commissioner in his speech highlighted on his strategies to bring peace, increased food production through the "Yei Green Home Agriculture Program", ensure children complete 12 years of Primary and Secondary education and improve community healthcare services.
The Commissioner urged the Council Members to join his team to increase revenue motivation from the current 1.5 million per month to at least 6 million, reduce incidences of insecurity by engaging the people on peaceful dialogue and keep the people on the farm to avert the threat of hunger.
The opening of the Revitalized Transitional Legislative Council is seen as the stamp of peace implementation at the County Level. The occasion was welcomed by the people of Yei River County and is likely to witness a new political shape as opposition Political Parties have surfaced in the Council Chambers to exercise their competences.

Kinji secondary school construction re-launched in Yei

The commissioner of Yei River County Aggrey Cyrus kanyikwa during the launch he says as they relaunch the construction of the secondary school they need to remember that the money used for the construction belongs to the community, he also thanks Tamama Construction Company for the acceptance to complete Kinji senior secondary school as they continue with the construction of Kinji secondary school until completion

We acknowledge you for what you have done Tamama Construction Company for accepting the start of the construction and I believe that you will endure with the same believe and determination to complete the government secondary school and our task as government is to follow cash and bring it to you as we started today we want ensure that the director of education keeps monitoring the activity till its completed, commissioner mentions.

“The day is a good for us to recognize the construction of schools that has been started by the government of Central Equatoria State and stopped in the middle due to the conflicts and we are here to re-launch it in order to continue with the construction as this construction has been for many schools within central Equatoria state especially counties like Terekeka , Morobo Yei , Lainya and Juba county which some of them still remains un constructed,” Juan Margret the education director for Yei River County stated during the re-launch on Friday morning.

The managing director for Tamama construction company Mawa Nixon assures readiness towards the construction of Kinji secondary school in order to complete the project, he points, “ we are ready to do the work as south Sudanese but at least since you are a new administrators together with the governor of central Equatoria State, my appeal is that the money should be released timely so that at least the money should be released timely so that we are able to complete the construction of the sides because in the previous years we were told to use our money and we used it to up to 40%, we invested all the money we hard only when we were told there is no money some of the people collapsed and some people are in prison while others their houses in Kajokeji were confiscated by banks because they borrowed money from the banks and we used money from our own businesses .

Local Order Issued

Citizens of Yei Welcome Local Order Issued for the ban and/or Regulation of Funeral Overnight prayers and night clubs including Discos

Momor Dam

Momor Dam to become a potential and viable source of renewable energy for Yei

Approval of 2021/22 Annual Plan and Budget

The Administration of Yei River County Has Today Approved its 2021/22 Annual Plan and Budget

Education Policy Framework Conference

Yei River County concludes a two days Education Policy Framework Conference “under the theme Breaking the Barriers for Equitable Access to Quality and Inclusive Education for Sustainable Development

Bilateral Cooperation Initiatives with Dr Congo

Yei County Commissioner Accomplishes Bilateral Cooperation Initiatives with Dr Congo

Launching of the Secondary School Final examination sitting

Kanyikwa, Launched the Secondary School Final sitting of Examinations for the year 2021/2022,

Ombasi market re-opens

Ombasi market re-opens following the reconciliation between the community and military

The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) General Court Martial was Launched by Hon Aggrey Cyrus Kanyikwa, the Commissioner of Yei River County, Hon Kanyikwa, praised H.E Gen Salva Kiir Mayardit, the President of the Republic of South Sudan and Commander in Chief of the SSPDF and Supreme Commander of the Organized Forces for approving the constitution of the General Court Martial.
The Commissioner further appreciated the efforts of H.E Emmanuel Adil Anthony, Governor of CES in coordinating with the President and Chief of Defense Forces, Gen Santino Deng Wol to enable the GCM resumes their duties. It is with the commitment of the CDF that the Commissioner applauded as symbolism of leadership in the SSPDF and the consistency in command by Brig Gen John Lual, CDR of Yei and Morobo Forces in building military and civil confidence and discipline.
The Commissioner commended the GCM team of 7 as led by Maj Gen Kong for accepting this noble task.
Hon.Kanyikwa emphasized that our country needs peace, justice and development, that there cannot be peace and development where justice is denied. He said "God has granted us our National and this nation needs our obedience and love. That if we don't obey and love God and our nation, then we are rebellious. Where we are led by rebellious hearts and minds against our God and Nation then we are a cursed generation.
Being rebellious is not what is expected out of us as we are doing today against our Nation. Because of our selfishness and greed that careless of our destiny we may lose the chances for peace and development".
Hon. Kanyikwa adds; the conflict in South Sudan is not ending because we have replaced obedience, love and unity with hate, bitterness and cheating. We need to come out from the bondage of evil to pursue justice and that what our country is built from".
The Hon Commissioner called those who are aggrieved and fallen victims of these rebellious actions to come out to witness the dawn of justice being executed in Yei and those accused to accept the court proceedings as correctional measure to their mistakes. He reiterated that the GCM is here to award justice so that our nation is respected and honored by the world again.
In attendance were His Lordship Msgr Rev Alex Lodiong Sakor Eyobo , Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Yei and Executive Secretary of the Muslim Council, SPLM County Interim Secretary, Cde Ale Satimon, County Youth Leader and UMISS Representative.
In his remarks Bishop Msgr Rev Alex Sakor Eyobo praised the court establishment as one positive step in awarding justice and called the Court to exercise fairness as they conduct the proceedings.
The Court hearing was then Launched and adjourned for Friday 3rd, June, 2022 at 9:00 am and shall continue to 5:00 PM every week day.

Yei the land of peace and prosperity

Coffee grown in Yei River County

Yei Girls Primary School

Pupils of elementary class in 1935

Commisioner Yei River County

Aggry Cyrus Kanyikwa