His Excellency, GEN. SALVA KIIR MAYARDIT,
President of the Republic of South Sudan; and,
Chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Government (SPLM-IG)
Juba, South Sudan,
Dear President,
April 28, 2022 — On 20th April and 21st April, 2022, the undersigned Unity State Community leaders from different countries in three continents held virtual meetings chaired by the Leader of Liech Community Association in Kenya.
In attendance were Joseph Khan, Chairman of Bentiu Liech Community Association in United States of America (USA), Chienglel Nyuon Gatluak, Chairman of Bentiu Community Association in Arab Republic of Egypt (Egypt), Sarah Nyapini Dual, Chairlady of Bentiu Liech community Association in Canada (Canada), Chak Gatnyang Riak, Chairman of Liech Community Association in Uganda (Uganda), and Dak Buoth Riek-Gaak, Chairman of Liech community Association in Kenya (Kenya).
These joint online meetings are the first of its kind. They were convened in the wake of the continuous barbaric killings and massive displacements of thousands unarmed and innocent civilians in the Southern parts of Unity State, particularly in Leer County.
On 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th, the residents of Leer County came under heavy attacks in different sub-locations where they were peacefully conducting their farming and fishing activities, to meet their basic daily needs.
Prior to these incidences, on or about 1st March, 2022, similar attacks happened spearheaded by suspected officers working for Unity State government, unfortunately no one was held to account.
As at now, there is a humanitarian crisis which requires an expeditious involvement of non-governmental organizations (NGOS). The wounded and survivors of these heinous attacks are abandoned to face imminent death, because their shelters and food stuff were set on fire, with sole aim of subjecting them to permanent and situational poverty.
In fact, lack of intervention from both the state and national government agencies resulted to a regrettable situation in which the number of deaths and properties destroyed is yet to be known.
We must say that, these cruel acts of violence against innocent civilians mostly children, women and the elderly are uncalled for, unjustified and unlawful. It is painful and absurd that innocent South Sudanese are dying mercilessly under the watch of their leaders at the very moment when the country is undergoing peaceful implementation process.
Largely, we are deeply concern that Unity State Governor, Dr. Joseph Nguen Manytuil Wejang opted to remain silence over the mass killings in Southern Unity State. We are not surprised by his conspicuous silence, because his dislike for the residents of Southern Unity state is proven by the fact that in his decade as a governor, he never visited southern Unity State mainly Payijiar County. The truth is that these ruthless acts against civilians shows the failure of the Government of South Sudan, to defend and uphold key provisions of the Transitional constitution of South Sudan and the international human rights.
RESOLUTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
- Condemnation of violence
We unanimously condemned these brutalities against unarmed and innocent civilians in Leer County in the strongest terms possible. We urgently call for properly constituted committee of investigation to undertake their work of inquiry and leave no stone unturn. These attackers, rapists and looters and their sponsors ought to be name and shame in public, to end impunity in South Sudan.
- Ban on Unity State Governor
We banned the governor of Unity State Dr. Joseph Nguen Manytuil Wejang from addressing Liech communities abroad, because of his open refusal to speak and stop the violence in Southern Unity State. As the victims were crying for help, as the world was condemning and calling on the violence to stop while demanding the formation of the committee of inquiry, the governor Dr. joseph Nguen was keeping silence as if it was a non-issue. The governor’s inaction was a sign that he does not care about the residents of Southern Unity State. Up to now, the Governor did not visit and condone with the deceased families. Surprisingly, as the violence was raging, the governor was busy releasing the convicts charged with related offences. And since he does not want to stop or speak against the pain, hunger and suffering that our people are going through at the moment, we decided to ban and bar him from coming to speak to Unity State communities in the diaspora. The principle of law that ‘‘he who comes to equity must come with clean hands’’ apply in this case. Therefore, we decided to stripped him of his right to speak to us by virtue of the fact that he refused to give our people their right to hear from him as their governor.
- Demand for the Removal of Unity State Governor
The Unity State governor, Dr. Nguen Manytuil should be removed from office simply because he failed terribly in his constitutional obligations to provide adequate security to the residents of Unity State. He has been in the helm of Unity State leadership for ten years; and his leadership will be remembered for bad and worse. We stated categorically that ‘enough is enough’. Hence, we said that Governor Dr. Nguen must go. And If the Unity State gubernatorial position was placed aside as a preserve of the Manytuil family, then time has come for another Manytuil family member like his elder brother, Lt. Gen. Bapiny Manytuil Wejang to be appointed as the Governor of Unity State. But as we know legally and historically, Unity state is not a monarchy. Thus, we encourage South Sudan President, Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit to move with speed to nominate and appoint anyone from SPLM-IG to replace Dr. Nguen as Governor of Unity state. We are aware that, Unity State is not short of capable cadres, whom the president can trust to represent him in Unity State. About decade ago, on 28th January 2013, lake state former governor Eng. Chol Tong Mayai was sacked over persistent inter clan clashes. Eventually, the parliament backed the presidential decree for his removal from office. More than ever before, the inter clan clashes in Unity State has worsen under Dr. Nguen administration. So, the President should remove and replace him with another suitable person for the job. Consequently, should the president fail to heed our call for Dr. Nguen’s removal, inter clan skirmishes may persist. And in the long run, there could be more loss of innocent lives and serious erosion of public confidence on his administration.
- Demand for replacement of Governor Dr. Joseph Manytuil from the Aneet investigation committee.
In February 2022, an investigation committee was established by the President with Dr. Manytuil as a deputy chairperson. We now recommend that he should be relieve, for he has no moral authority to lecture and convince other South Sudanese owing to his total disregard for what is considered right to the people.
In the meantime, the President should just tell Governor Dr. Nguen to quit and deal with these terrible cases of human rights violations in Unity State. Indeed, it is hypocritical for Governor Nguen to continue being absence when his own state is on fire burning. In this case, Dr. Nguen Manytuil is likened to an irrelevant man in African proverb, who leaves his house burning to pursue a rat fleeing from the flame.
DATED AND SIGNED ON THIS 23rD DAY OF APRIL, 2022
…………………………………..
- JOSEPH KHAN
Chairman, Bentiu Liech community Association in United States of America (USA)
Tel: +515-508-9584
Email: bentiuliechca@gmail.com
………………………………………
2 CHAK GATNYANG RIAK
Chairman, Liech community Association in Uganda (UGANDA)
Tel: +256786193938
Email: chakgatnyang@yahoo.com
…………………………………………
- CHIENGLEL NYUON GATLUAK
Chairman, Bentiu community Association in Arab Republic of Egypt (EGYPT)
Tel: +201140017534
Email: chienglelnyuon@gmail.com
……………………………………………
- SARAH NYAPINI DUAL
Chairlady, Bentiu Liech community Association in Canada (CANADA)
Tel: (403) 671-9025
Email: sarahdual96@gmail.com
……………………………………….
- DAK BUOTH RIEK-GAAK
Chairman, Liech community Association in Kenya (KENYA)
Tel: +254728677646
Email: eligodakb@yahoo.com
COPIED TO:
- DR. RIEK MACHAR TENY DHURGON
Chairman, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition SPLM-IO, and First Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan
- HON. HUSEIN ABDEL BAGGI AKOL,
Representative, South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan
- HON. REBECCA NYADENG DE MABIOR
Representative, SPLM Former Detainees, and Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan.
- GOV. DENAY JOCK CHAGOR,
Chairman, South Sudan United Movement (SSUM), and Governor, Jonglei State
- UNITY STATE NATIONAL MPs.
- LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
- FILE.
