July 18th 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – Members of the Nuer community working for the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardiit are fueding over who should lead them barely a week after the election of the SPLA former chief of general staff, James Hoth Mai, as the leader of the ‘Nuer Community’ in Juba.
Last Saturday, James Gathoth Mai was elected as the leader of the Nuer community in Juba.
However, in a public noticed issued on Wednesday, Gen. James Gathoth Gatkuoth, one of the Nuer elders in Juba and one of the Nuer officers who deserted the SPLM/A-IO in 2015, said the Nuer community in Juba do not recognize the election of the former army chief as a Nuer community chairman.
“The SPLM-IO In Government (IG) Nuer Council of Elders rejected the election of former Chief of Staff James Hoth Mai as the Chairman of Nuer community held last Saturday 14/7/2018 for many reasons,” said a statement issued by James Gathoth Gatkuoth.
Gathoth criticised the conduct of the elections saying only 120 people were present and as such the election has been annulled saying the elections should be put on hold until peace return to South Sudan and that would allow the participation of others who are not available.
“Elections should be put on hold until peace is brought we do not encourage for short cut elections that does not represent the entire Nuer community,” he said pointing out that as a criteria, it is always there that candidates are elected by more than 1500 delegates rather than the 120 who elected Hoth Mai.
“The election of the Nuer Chairman held last Saturday 14/7/2018 is not recognized and its activities shall not be binding the Nuer with exception of 120 who forged the elections,” the statement further said.
