Opinion: Governor Dr. Joseph Nguen Manytuil Wecjang should apologize over the Leer Massacre

For Immediate Release,

April 16, 2022 — On 1st March, 2022, before the Leer Massacre in Unity State, we reached out to our Governor, Dr. Joseph Nguen Manytuil Wecjang, with a message to suspend and investigate the Leer County Commissioner, Hon. Taker Riak Dong, Koch County commissioner, Hon. Koang Biel, Mayendit Commissioner, Hon. Dr. Gatluak Nyang failed to tender his resignation as the Governor of Unity State. 

Nonetheless, the call for their immediate suspension and investigation is still on. 

We wrote to the Governor following the rampant Human Rights abuses which caused humanitarian catastrophe as was mentioned by TROIKA countries in their joint statement entitled ‘‘South Sudan: TROIKA STATEMENT ON RECENT VIOLENCE IN UNITY STATE,’’ 

We asked the governor for their ‘suspension’ to prevent more loss of innocent lives. At the time of writing to the Governor, the above-mentioned commissioners were still busy inciting armed groups against residents in their respective counties instead of initiating dialogue and reconciliation as provided for in Chapter five of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCISS). 

We then communicated to Governor Dr. Nguen Manytuil believing that his government belongs to us, the people of Unity state. Under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) which we believed South Sudan had domesticated before or after independence, Article 21 accords us the right to participation in Government. 

We are sure that, if he had suspended these rogue commissioners, the Leer Massacre could have been avoided. Hence, the Governor’s refusal to suspend the three commissioners and his silence is enough to justify that he was behind the Leer Massacre that took place on 10th and 11th April, 2022. 

In other words, the governor, Dr. Joseph Nguen Manytuil is responsible for the Leer Massacre through his act of omission or commission. And because we hold him directly and indirectly liable as a Governor of Unity State, he should apologize to the People of Unity State and South Sudanese at large. First and foremost, let him come out and apologize and then leave the decision to the people of Unity State to decide. 

Going forward, Governor Dr. Joseph Nguen Manytuil should listen to the people of the unity state, who have knowledge and wisdom to foresee what is good and bad. 

Justifiably, the Governor cannot intentionally close his ears simply because he was appointed from above; he cannot ignore the voices of the people from below, for the voices of the people are the voice of God. 

Moreover, it is the constitutional responsibility and inherent duty of any leader like Governor Manytuil to learn the art of listening to the people. 

Having stated that, we further call on Governor Dr. Joseph Nguen Manytuil to speak out about what he knows about the Leer massacre. In doing so, he should make orders for these communal violence clashes to end in Unity State. We believe such orders can prevent a circle of revenge on both sides of the conflict.

Finally, it is wrong for Governor Manytuil to keep quiet on matters of Human Rights violations on the pretext that he is the vice chairperson of the Aneet investigation committee. The bible in the book of Mathew 7:3-5 says ‘‘Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye’’?  If Governor Manytuil cannot resign as a governor of Unity State over these rampant cases of insecurity, then he should resign as a member of the Aneet investigation committee appointed by the president.

In conclusion, as we write, we felt betrayed for our innocent people to be subjected to unbearable pain and suffering by leaders with a legal mandate to care and protect their lives and properties during these difficult times in our lives.  

Signed by;

Dak Buoth Riek-Gaak

Chairman, Liech Community Association in Kenya

Nairobi, Kenya