Press: Liech Community in Kenya withdraw her demand for Unity State governor’s removal

For Immediate Release,

August 6th, 2022 — On 20th April, 2022, the Liech community Association in Kenya formerly known as Unity State community in Kenya authored and signed a joint petition together with four other Diaspora Unity State communities in Uganda, USA, Egypt and Canada. 

The petition was directed to South Sudan President, Salva Kiir Mayardit and the people of Unity State from all walks of life. The petition contained three demands which include inter alia an immediate removal of Unity State governor Lt. Gen. Dr. Joseph Nguen Manyuil Wejang by all means. 

The 5-page petition received a wide publication both on print and online media. On 25th April, the City Review Newspaper published the petition on its first or front page. The leading online news media namely nyamilepedia and Sudan tribune published it as one of their top news stories. 

We did opine the petition thinking we were right, but we realized that we made a knee-jerk and premature reaction based on emotion. 

We hereby write to withdraw our demand for the governor’s removal. This unconditional withdrawal is done after establishing the facts that point to the truth. 

You will concur that all verdicts and judgments are subject to amendment and review particularly when fresh information is brought to the fore. Upon undertaking a thorough study and analysis of security reports we decided to alter our decision.  

The demand for governor’s removal stands withdrawn, and substituted with the clarion call to back the governor in his quest to reunite and reconcile the people of Unity State both at home and abroad. If need be, the only acceptable means to remove governor Manytuil is through general elections set for the year 2024.

On 10th May 2022, CTSAMVM penned a security report on the March and April incidents in southern Unity State. The report did not find the governor personally culpable in both incidents. Even in their recommendations, they did not recommend that the Governor be removed and replaced. In fact, the CTSAMVM report put the blame on the multi-security agencies. 

On 30th July and 4th August, 2022, we held formal and informal conversations and engagements with the Governor’s confidante and Unity State minister of land, Mr. Lam Tungwar Kueigwong.

On 4th August, 2022, Minister Lam Tungwar took us to the memory lane about the insecurity in Unity State. These informative and intellectual conversations with brother Lam prompted this change of stance.  

Evidently, the Minister told us that governor Manytuil means well for the people of Unity State, and that the governor is currently burning night oil to restore calm and security in Unity State chiefly in Mayom County. So, we must remain optimistic and give governor Manytuil a benefit of doubt. 

The truth of the matter is that the problem of Unity State is largely societal and not an individual issue which cannot be narrowed down to an individual. So, we realized that the removal of an individual governor is not going to change these perennial insecurity, disease and poverty problems that we are grappling with as a society. 

These societal problems perpetuated most by ignorance require concerted efforts from all and sundry. 

Having stated that, we regret any negative and provocative effects which our joint petition might have caused to the governor and the entire state leadership. 

Indeed, we are delighted with the Infrastructure developments notably the installation of the telecommunication network in Panyijiar County. We wish therefore to reiterate and reinstate our support for governor Manytuil and his administration. 

We are behind him in his combative efforts to defeat the armed groups led by renegade General Stephen Buay Rolnyang. We are backing the government’s call to bring Bandits’ leader General Buay Rolnyang whether ‘‘dead or alive’’ unless he heeds to the call to lay down his weapons and give dialogue a chance.

Initially, our position was that, if General Buay Rolnyang must fight then he should do that using the non-violence means as we advised him earlier after his past humiliation in the hands of the state. 

Unfortunately, by resorting to violence he is simply looking for another irreparable humiliation and none but he will be responsible.

 Categorically, we are stating this position because violence is always not the best and or first option. 

Finally, while we maintain our pressure on governor Manytuil to redouble his efforts to make Unity State united again, we call on our Senior Youth and the People of Unity State, to support him and his leadership in the war against insurgencies. 

Signed by;

Dak Buoth Riek-Gaak, 

Chairman, Liech community Association in Kenya

What Sap: +254728677646 

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