Ajuendit community elects new leadership committees to tackle local challenges

AWEIL – The Ajuendit community of Maluil-Akong in Greater Ajuet has elected new leadership committees tasked with addressing pressing development needs and strengthening local organisation, following a major community gathering held over the weekend.

More than 500 people — including women, youth, intellectuals, chiefs and public officials — attended the meeting, with some travelling from Aweil Town, the capital of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State. The discussions centred on identifying capable individuals to lead community affairs and steer development initiatives at a time when residents say government support remains limited.

Mou Aleu, who now heads the youth committee, explained that the elections aimed to bring forward respected individuals who can mobilise resources and guide community-driven development rather than political agendas.

“This association is meant to help us organise ourselves. We don’t want everything to become political,” Aleu said. “We lack good schools, among other things, and we want our sons and daughters to contribute in any way they can to address community needs.”

Aleu said the newly-inaugurated committees — comprising chiefs, women and youth — are expected to focus on practical issues affecting households in Maluil-Akong, especially those the government may overlook.

Dr. Joseph Machok Makak, who leads the intellectuals’ committee, said members have begun drafting a constitution that will guide conduct, operations and transitions within the new leadership structure.

“Each committee has 17 members, and there must be a guiding document,” Dr. Machok noted. “When your term ends, you hand over, and that is final. We want a non-partisan association that deals strictly with Maluil-Akong and Ajuet-dit issues.”

Asked whether neighbouring communities may participate in future initiatives, Dr. Machok said cooperation is welcome as long as contributions are genuine and community-focused.

“Our neighbours in Awiil and Ajuet-thii share many common interests with us. They are welcome to join and contribute whatever they can,” he said.

Community analysts say local associations in the region have historically produced mixed outcomes, with some achieving notable progress while others have collapsed after political actors attempted to exploit them for electoral ambitions.

Leaders of the newly-formed Ajuendit committees insist they are determined to maintain a strictly apolitical platform that prioritises development and unity while guarding against external political interference.