Acting Governor Calls On Rubkona-Nuer Populations to Return Home!

Updated at 1:02Am, March 9, 2015(PST)

March 8, 2015(Nyamilepedia) — The acting governor of Unity State, Dr. Joseph Nguen Manytuil Wejang, while officiating the inauguration ceremony of “Leek Community Association”, organized by members of Rubkona County at Nyakuron Cultural Centre in Juba, calls on the internally displaced persons and refugees from the most affected parts of Juba and Unity state to return back home, promising that the situation is normal.

“Governor Manytuil made humble appeal to the people of Rubkona County in Juba to convince their citizens currently living in UNMISS civilian protection sites in Juba and other parts of the country to return to their homes because the security situation in Juba is normal.” Dr. Nguen appeals.

The veterinary doctor, who lived entirely in Khartoum, Sudan, during the North-South conflict, has spent the last one year in Juba as Unity State’s capital, Bentiu, changes hand more than four times.

Governor Manytuil, however, assures the IDPs of security in Juba and other parts of the country, stressing that the citizens must not live in fear under the protection of the United Nation in their own country.

“There is no reason to live in fear and under some one protection in your country.”Manytuil said.

“The Republic of South Sudan is our country that we collectively fought to achieve and that we cannot live in fear and panic on its soil.” He continues.

The governor promises the affected populations of repairing and rehabilitating their homes in Mia Saba (107), which are currently occupied by new residents, mostly from President Kiir’s home region of Bahr el Ghazal.

“Governor Manytuil further informed the participants that the government of Unity State will fence and renovate the houses of Unity State’s citizens in Miya Saba (107) and Mangateen residential areas of Juba city.” Said his Press Secretary, Benson Mayen.

“This is to expedite the process of reintegration of our people into their communities.” Dr. Manytuil said.

Mia Saba (107) and Gudele dominate the latest report of African Union Commission of Inquiry as the most “ethnically cleansed” areas in Juba during the December 16-18 genocide, which targeted members of Nuer community.

Although many Nuer politicians in the government do not believe in these reports, nearly all of them have lost relatives, some even five to six family members, between December 16 -19.

“The violence ethnically cleansed the city of Juba of its Nuer population. The motive of this violence was political: the violence, which originated as a schism in the governing elite of South Sudan, targeted one particular ethnicity, the Nuer. Its intent and effect was to divide the civilian population along ethnic lines, to destroy the middle ground, thereby to polarize the society into “us” and “them.” An IDP at the UNMISS compound in Juba 3, told the Commission: “They put a knife into what bound us, turned the crisis from political to ethnic.”[6] Reads part of African Union report.

Not Nuer Vs Dinka Conflict

The governor of Unity State tells the people of Rubkona that the conflict in the country is not a tribal conflict between the two major tribes, the Nuer and the Dinka, but a conflict between the 63 tribes against rebels of Riek Machar.

“Governor Manytuil clarified that, the current war is not a conflict between the Nuer and Dinkas as being propagated by the rebels. It’ s being fought by the government of the Republic of South Sudan, which include all the tribes of South Sudan, on one side and the rebels of Riek Machar on the other side.” Dr. Nguen claims.

The acting governor thanks the people of Rubkona for standing with him and Salva Kiir’s troubled regime in the aftermath of Riek Machar’s failed “coup attempt”.

“In response, Governor Manytuil thanked the participants and the entire population of Rubkona County for supporting the government, in the aftermath of December 15, 2013 failed coup attempt by Riek Machar and his associates.” Read the report extending to Nyamilepedia from the governor’s office.

Dr. Manytuil believes that the Oppositions, under Dr. Riek Machar, the former vice president, are turning the conflict between the government and the rebels into tribal war to mobilize the youth from Nuer Community to fight the government.

Manytuil, however, is worried that their account paints the loyal Nuer politicians and their families as Dinka and not Nuer by ethnicity.

“The rebels want to turn this conflict into a tribal war so that they mobilize innocent young Nuer to fight on their side and paint the Nuer in government as Dinkas.” He said.

“This remote strategy has therefore failed because millions of Nuers have comprehend that, Riek Machar and Taban Deng always shed their blood to acquire positions and wealth and they get nothing from them in return.” Manytuil blames his former governor, Gen. Taban Deng Gai.

Governor Manytuil urges the people of Rubkona to stand with him and never let their county be reclaimed by the Oppositions under the Military Governors of SPLM/SPLA [IO].

“Governor Manytuil requests the people of Rubkona County to work for peace in the State. This is because the County is worst hit by the current war. Rubkona must not be turned into a battle field because it’s heartland of our people. Any attempt to make it a play ground for violence will not be tolerated by the government.” Manytuil said.

Parts of Mayom, Rubkona, and Pariang Counties, in addition to Bentiu town, are the strongholds under the control of Salva Kiir forces in the oil-rich state. Six other counties and the oil fields in the north of the State are controlled by the Opposition.

The governor has further dismissed the claims that he plans to move the capital from Bentiu to Mankien, Mayom County.

“Governor Manytuil also dismissed a widely circulated rumor that the State capital Bentiu has been transferred to Mankien Payam of Mayom County as unfounded and baseless.  This propaganda is being disseminated by anti-peace elements whose motive is to create confusion among our people. Bentiu is, and shall remain the capital of Unity State.” Said Mayen Benson Nirew,  the Press Secretary of Governor Manytuil.

So far none among the top politicians have made attempt to visit the refugees in the IDPs sites in the country or in East Africa.

South Sudan conflict broke out in December, 2013. Thousands have been killed and nearly 2 millions people are displaced to Protections sites managed by the United Nations within the country or the neighboring countries.