Unity State orders violent extra-judicial killing of suspects accused of murdering Mayom county’s former commissioner

Aug 08, 2022 — In what appears to be a revenge killing, Unity State has ordered a violent extra judicial killing of suspects, who were arrested by the Sudanese forces in connection to the recent killing of the commissioner of Mayom County and 10 other people. 

The extra-judicial killing, which was filmed and circulated through social media, saw the ring leader, who was identified as Gatluak Majiok Liey, burned to death alive in a small hut, and three other men killed through a firing squad. 

Speaking while being chained on both ankles and arms, Gatluak Majiok, promised his killers that even if he was never chained up, he would never run from what appears to be a capital punishment in revenge for the late brother of Hon. Tutkew.

Gatluak warned his killers that they will one day run out of the money they are wasting on bribery of individuals. 

While Gatluak was allowed to speak before his death, three other men, who were identified as Nyuon Garang Kuol, Pur Ruop Kuol and Dhoal Barpuoh Tap, were blind folded and shot to death in a fire squad by members of the South Sudan People Defence Force. 

Although it is not clear who approved the extra-judicial killing of the suspects, Unity State Governor, Joseph Nguen Manytuil and Presidential Advisor on Security, Hon. Tutkew Gatluak Manime, are the suspects.

The suspects are accused of being members of the South Sudan People Movement (SSPM/A) of Gen. Stephen Buay Rolnyang, the rebel group that claimed responsibility over the recent atrocities in Mayom County.

The suspects were captured over the weekend in the neighboring Khordofan State in Sudan and were handed to the Unity State government in an attempt to hand them over to South Sudan government but it remains unclear at the time of this writing if Juba has approved the extra-judicial of the suspects without due legal process. 

Between 2014 and 2017, several people including children and elderly people have been killed in extra-judicial killings that include fire squad, burning scores to death in tukuls, and maiming of body parts.

Although these acts have been repeatedly condemned by the international community and accountability was factored into the Revitalized Peace Agreement, no individuals have been held to account so far.