By Nicholas Osobi,
Oct 15, 2021 — In the myriad of untold betrayal of Equatorians by Dr. Riek Machar’s cult movement SPLA-IO aka Ngundeng Resistance Force, the assassination of Gen. Martin Kenyi Terensio and sweeping the news of his death under SPLA-IO’s dirty carpet, is the most revealing. It didn’t only deprive Equatorians off a hero but also sowed seeds of perennial hatred in communities once known for highest standard of civility and harmony.
Gen. Martin Kenyi, a U.S trained political scientist and reputed liberation war hero, trusted Machar as fellow reformist and partnered with him to restore the much-needed sanity in the country’s leadership. Unknown to him, the man he had mistaken for a reformist is just a superstitious tribalist with schizophrenia paranoia running in their family gene. Worst still, he neither has the people of Equatoria at heart nor the capacity to lead an organised group even at Payam level.
Alas! As an adage has it, “under a glove the ugliest hand is hidden,” in spite of this glaring questionable persona, Gen. Martin still trusted him. When fighting broke out in Juba, Gen. Martin Kenyi abandoned UNMISS compound where he was supposedly very safe and followed Dr. Riek Machar into the jungles; a decision which turned out to be the worst mistake of his life. Impeccable sources later ascertained that it was Dr. Riek himself who sent one of his senior officers to pick Gen. Martin Kenyi from the UNMISS gate with fake promise that a chopper was waiting to airlift them.
Between 14th and 16th Aug of 2016, Gen. Martin Kenyi was captured and murdered in the jungle of Western Equatoria. Neither Juba regime nor any armed faction claimed responsibility for his death. Dr. Riek Machar and his wife didn’t want to disclose his death either; instead they resorted to cover-ups and lies, claiming that Gen. Martin Kenyi and Elias were carrying some secret assignments in undisclosed location and that they would reappear at appropriate time. Dr. Riek went as far as ordering those who knew what happened, to keep tight lips and as token of appreciation for their loyalty, he gifted them with new ranks.
Dr. Riek and his wife’s denial and disinformation were due to guilty conscience. They feared, by opening they would be implicating themselves given available evidence was indicating that Gen. Martin Kenyi’s death was an inside job (foul play).
Another probable rationale was to keep the Equatorians in perpetual somnambulism so that they can continue to fight for him without any reservations. Should the news of Gen. Kenyi’s assassination leak prematurely, the vigour of Equatorians would wane thin, yet the white army (Nuer youths) who are the immediate alternative, lack the skills and tenacity to face engage in combat operations. They are only good at their livestock from hyenas and cattle rustlers but not fighting in real war.
Dr. Riek is not a leader, naturally. He just ventured into politics to actualize the prophecy (delusion) of his schizophrenic ancestor, Ngundeng as such he acted irrationally, and started a war that he can’t finish. He preyed on the vulnerability of unsuspecting communities under the guise of fighting for change. Unfortunately for Equatorians, at the end being pitched against one another and conned off their dignity by a paranoid political gambler whose mental health is million times questionable.
The author is a revolutionary columnist nicholas.osobi@columnist.com.
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