May 11th 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – South Sudan protest organizers said in a statement on Friday that they are concerned that the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardiit may respond to the planned protest violently.
South Sudanese youth are calling for a nation-wide protest next week to try to push for the resignation of President Salva Kiir Mayardiit from power.
The government this week warned that protests would not be tolerated saying the country is not ready for the like of the Arab spring which saw several leaders removed from power in the Arab world in 2011.
In a statement issued on Friday, the protest group, the Coalition for Advocates for South Sudan (CASS) said they are concerned that the government of South Sudan may respond to the protests violently.
“We are concerned that the government of South Sudan may respond violently to the peaceful protesters,” the group said in a statement seen by the Nyamilepedia on Friday.
“We urge the government to exercise restraint and allow the protesters to peacefully express themselves,” the statement added.
The group further said they are in solidarity with the people of South Sudan in exercising their rights to freedom of expression against what they said has been a corrupt government.
“We stand with the youth of South Sudan in exercising their right to peacefully protest the government of South Sudan, its corruption seemingly endless conflict, and countless abuse of power,” they said in the statement.
“We encourage the protesters to remain vigilant and stay committed to the principles of nonviolent protest,” the statement added.
