Senior Nuer officials in South Sudan’s transitional government have strongly denied allegations of ethnic targeting of the Nuer community, accusing international organisations, aid agencies, and the United States of spreading misinformation.
At a press conference in Juba on Wednesday, the officials described recent claims of ethnically motivated violence as false and inflammatory.
“We categorically reject these claims as false, misleading, inflammatory and inconsistent with the policies of the government of the Republic of South Sudan,” said Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, Minister of Public Service and Human Resource Development, while reading a statement on behalf of the “Nuer Executive Caucus.”
The officials criticised a May 12 statement by the U.S. State Department and reports by organisations such as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which alleged that government forces had conducted operations in northern Jonglei that displaced thousands and involved human rights violations against Nuer civilians.
“At no point has the government of the Republic of South Sudan, or the SSPDF, conducted operations aimed at targeting the Nuer community as an ethnic group,” Gatkuoth said.
He insisted that security operations in Upper Nile and other areas were aimed at “armed criminal elements” to restore public order and protect civilians.
Simon Kun Puoch, third deputy chairman of the ruling SPLM and a Nuer leader, accused the SPLM-IO of mobilising the White Army and using armed youth to fight the government.
He defended President Salva Kiir, saying: “President Salva Kiir and his government are for all the 64 tribes. They will never target any single community in the Republic of South Sudan.”
Deputy Minister for Information David Yau Yau described the allegations as “malicious and unfounded” and warned that misinformation threatens national unity and security.
The officials urged international partners, NGOs, and media organisations to verify facts and coordinate with the government before publishing reports on the security situation.
The press conference comes amid ongoing clashes in parts of Upper Nile and Jonglei states that have displaced thousands of civilians in recent months.
