The Governor of South Sudan’s Unity State, Joseph Monytuil has accused politicians of fueling the violence in Leer County.
The governor, in an interview with Sudan Tribune, made reference to a letter from intellectuals in diaspora, urging President Salva Kiir to sack him.
He described it as “a creation of his opponents and people seeking removal from power so that someone of their choice is appointed”.
“There are people in Juba, especially in the opposition who are directing people in the state to go fight, take the properties of other people, and burn down their villages so that when the state government response to keep law and order, it becomes the story they want,” explained Monytuil.
“We know these people. They are people who use violence to get to leadership. The whole country and leadership knows them”, he added.
Sudan Tribune could, however, not independently verify Monytuil’s claims.
On Tuesday, the head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Nicholas Haysom “strongly” condemned the widespread sexual violence, killings and other atrocities committed against civilians in Leer.
The UN documented several cases of human rights violations allegedly carried out by armed youth from Koch and Mayendit counties in Unity State.
Between 17 February and 7 April, 72 civilians were killed, at least 11 others injured and 64 cases of sexual violence recorded, according to team from UNMISS human rights division who have conducted 10 verification missions.
The governor urged politicians to wait for the outcomes of the fact-finding mission from the committee recently appointed by President Salva Kiir.
“They know that the committee is conducting an investigation. Why don’t they wait for the findings? The chairperson of the committee is someone they know. And it was the person they wanted. The president accepted and appointed him. Why are they impatient?” he asked.
Separately, the governor’s spokesperson Portsix Bakuony Patai attributed attacks which occurred in Leer area from April 8 -10, 2022 to the clashes between the splinter factions of the armed opposition group (SPLM/A-IO).
He said forces loyal to First Vice President Riek Machar and those allied to Gen. Simon Gatwech clashed in Koch County at Mirmir cantonment side.
Bakuony also denied that government soldiers were involved in the attack, instead claiming that the fighting in Leer was a result of the attack in Mirmir.
Two weeks ago, a group of youth from Unity State demonstrated in Juba, amid calls for the removal of Monytuil and the commissioners of Koch and Leer counties.
Report by: Sudan Tribune
