Opinion: Calls for accountability on Leer incident 

An open letter to President Salva Kiir Mayardit,

By Ruai Malual Jal,

April 16, 2022 — On 16 February 2022, well-armed youths from Koch and Mayiendit counties launched a heavy attack on civilian populations in Leer County killing children and women in the areas of Padeah, Lual, and Gatdor villages. The well-armed youth were commanded by the commissioner of Koch County, Gordon Koang, and the commissioner of Mayiendit county, Gatluak Nyang. This attack displaced thousands of local communities from their homes to Leer town.  Women and girls were raped during this attack. 

The state government under the leadership of Hon. Governor Joseph Nguen Monytuil was silent over this killing and displacement of the civilian populations in the area. This clearly indicated that the killing of innocent civilians and raping of women and girls in Leer County was coordinated by the state government and executed by the county commissioners of Koch and Mayiendit counties. 

On 8th April 2022, the commissioner of Koch County, Gordon Koang Biel and the commissioner of Mayiendit county, Gatluak Nyang launched another attack on unarmed civilians in Leer County, killing the elderly, children, and women in Thonyor, Thor, Adok, Yang, and Meer villages. Many innocent civilians were displaced to swamps areas and they are still staying in the open air. All the villages were burnt to ashes and all humanitarian warehouses were looted by armed youths from Koch and Mayiendit counties. There was no doubt that the youths from Koch and Mayiendit counties were armed up to teeth by the state government. 

Many thanks to the Joint force in Muom Military training center for protecting the vulnerable people who went to seek protection from their camp. This is well appreciated. The force fulfills its constitutional mandate of protecting civilians. 

Mr. President, with this background, I am appealing to you to hold those who committed crimes against civilians in Leer County accountable. Mr. President, I know it is your constitutional mandate to protect the lives of the people of South Sudan and their properties. The killing of civilians in Leer by well-known leaders in the Unity state is a test to your leadership in our country. 

Your excellency, the formation of the investigation committee for the Leer incident is a positive step. We as the relatives of victims applaud this move. However, we are still demanding the suspension of the Unity state governor, Joseph Nguen Monytuil, the three commissioners of Leer, Mayiendit, and Koch counties. This will pave the way for the investigation committee to their work effectively.  

Mr. President, the committee you formed are representatives of different political parties, but I am in the opinion that you need to add the representatives of civil society organizations, women and church leaders who can act as observers during the investigation. 

Finally, Mr. President, I wanted to thank you and your government for continue implementing the Revitalized peace agreement. I have confidence that you will lead the people of South Sudan to peace and stability despite the challenges that our nation is facing. The people of South Sudan need to live in a peaceful and united country.

Ruai Malual is a concerned citizen of Unity state. Ruai is a graduate of a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations and Diplomatic Studies from Cavendish University Uganda. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree of Diplomacy at Mount Kenya University. For more information, you can reach the author through email at ruaimigoa@gmail.com.