December 19th 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – Former senior Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) party official has criticized what he said is ethnically motivated recall of South Sudan ambassadors by the country’s ministry of foreign affairs.
Recently, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Awut Deng, recalled several ambassadors including South Sudan’s envoys to Washington and Abuja who are both from the Equatoria region.
In a statement to Nyamilepedia this afternoon, Wol Deng Atak, former SPLM official and ex-lawmaker for Tonj North County has criticized the decision of the foreign ministry.
“The recent recall of South Sudan ambassadors aimed at targeting my fellow brothers from Equatoria region is unacceptable,” Atak who resigned recently from the ruling SPLM said.
“The ministry of Foreign Affairs might need to explain to the nation what is going on. I understand H.E. Ambassador Paul Okero posted to Nigeria, H.E. Philip Jada to Washington and H.E. John Andruga – amongst very few Equartorians in foreign missions – have been recalled by the minister of foreign affairs in Juba,” he said.
He said most of South Sudan’s diplomats are from the majority Dinka ethnic group and mainly from Kiir’s home region of Bahr el-Ghazal.
“To bring this to perspective, out of all ambassadors in foreign missions representing South Sudan, 75% are Dinka of which 80% of the 75% ambassadors are Dinka folks from Gogrial State of former Warrap State. Please, get it clearly, I have nothing personal with folks from Gogrial,” he said.
“It wasn’t right at the first place that we over represented our majority in the missions thereof. Targeting the minority is not only a bullying tactics but an act of justifying injustice at highest order. Sharing fairly is not only caring but just and justice builds a strong stable nation,” he added.
