Who is Responsible for the Lives Lost in Western Equatoria State?
7 min readBy Marol Ariech Mawien, South Sudan
June 26, 2015 (SSB) — There is confusion in what is happening in Western Equatoria State, the fighting broke out in the State’s western county of Mundri as result to it captured by un recognize groups, on Friday of May 22, 2015, a victory which was celebrated by the SPLM.IO who claimed the capturing of the county headquarter where the rebels of Dr Riek Machar release the press statement which was seen in Sudan tribune, the spokesperson in the office of the chairman and commander-in-chief, SPLM/SPLA.IO, do hereby announce the capturing today [Friday] of Mundri town in Western Equatoria state by our gallant forces under the overall command of Major General Elias Lako Jada,” Machar’s spokesperson, James Gatdet Dak said in a statement issued on Friday evening.
He said Mundri town, about 200km west of the country’s capital, was strategic since it links Juba to the state capital, Yambio.
“We congratulate our freedom fighters for the victory,” said Dak, adding that more details on the matter would follow later. A statement that was later disputed by the new rebels that emerged in the state call themselves revolution movement for national salvation (REMNASA). Why do Riek Machar rebels claim the victory of others, claiming that they were the one who captured town of Mundri, that clearly show Riek rebels have no hand in the fighting that led to the capturing of Mundri.
The South Sudanese army spokesperson, Col. Philip Aguer announced on Monday that a new rebellion had been formed in Mundri county of Western Equatoria state.
“There is a new rebel movement in Western Equatoria state. Security reported that somebody called Charles Balogore under Wesley Waluba” leads the rebellion.
The leader of a new resistance movement in South Sudan’s Western Equatoria state has denied their alleged links to the armed opposition led by former vice-president, Riek Machar. Wesley Welebe Samson said his group, locally known as the Nyarango Boys, was not behind the recent insurgency in Mundri County.
He also dismissed claimed that his resistance movement was part of the Revolution Movement for National Salvation (REMNASSA) that also claimed responsibility for what has occurred in Mundri.
A former lawmaker, Welebe said his groups of mainly area youth want to protect farmers in greater Mundri from the pastoralists who have invaded the area, continuously destroying farms in the area.
He described the pastoralists as “spoilers” of the peaceful coexistence among the various communities in Mundri County.
He said the Nyarango Boys movement was agitating for peace in the county.
Welebe lauded president Salva Kiir after the latter recently issued an executive order calling for the removal of cattle from their territory.
The former legislator, however, called on the people of greater Mundri to support the government of South Sudan and live in peace.
Our message to the government and president of the Republic of South Sudan Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit is that we are for peace and not against the government, the group’s leader assured on Friday.
He further disclosed that they were ready to dialogue with the government, but on condition that his boys would be fully protected.
“The boys are ready and will be handed over to the government and some of them to be recruited to the national army, police, national security and other organized forces in the country such that they are part of security that will protect people,” said Welebe.
Formation of Midwest State
He also called on the president to consider the proposal to establish Midwest state, which was tabled in his office some years ago, since the Yambio administration had “failed” to solve local problems.
He said his group would not in any way fight the national army or government.
The leader of Nyarango Boys further refuted allegations that his group is linked to one Lasuba and that they had no connection with his group, which only aims at protection the farmers in the area. He urged the government to treat his case differently.
The state government especially state minister of information dismiss all allegations ,he dismiss that, there is no rebellion in the state, that seem to be disputing what the army spokesman said, in the other hand the governor also saying the same statement which were been stated by his minister.
Youth under former state assembly dismiss the links with two rebels movement, claiming to be fighting for the protection of farmers, again he went to say, he is going to negotiated with the government for his group to be protected and then, he expected government to organize his group and integrated them into the national army, and organize forces, he also demand for the creation of Midwest state.
When I look at Wesley Waluba’s reasons for fighting, there is nothing tangible and logic on his demand. His arrow boys were fighting with pastoralist, to expel them out of Western Equatoria State, why do they fight after H.E the president of the republic announce decree to inform all cattle keepers to leave Equatoria to their original places, which he was the example, his cattle’s were taken from Luri to Bar El Ghazal and people of Jongeli went to Jongeli, what fuel the fighting again? The time that Mr. Wesley claimed to be fighting against pastoralist is not the right time; the right time was before president issued decree that mean there is reason behind the bar being hided.
He Wesley Waluba, added condition that his groups, the Nyarango boys should be integrated into the army and organizing forces, what happen? The action of Wesley was to defend his community, why does he need government to integrate his boys? These are boys not army, if they were to be integrated it shown that Wesley is a pure rebel commander who has returned to the government with his conditions of accepting peace.
Creation of Midwest State, why Mr. Wesley Waluba changes the dimension of fighting for the creation of new State, instead he was fighting to expel pastoralist out of Mundri as the only reason, why did he demand for state?, what is the link between the two? That shows Mr. Wesley Waluba as a former member of state assembly, has nothing in his brain, or absence minded person, it shouldn’t be him, a person who was one time member of the state legislative assembly to think like a child who does not know what is he/she crying for. He has dead politics!
The revolution movement for national salvation rebels are every time claiming the victory in Western Equatoria, after the issue of Mundri was confused by the four groups, state government, SPLM.IO, Nyarango boys and REMNASA, and other scenario happening in Maridi, where a man came to the butcheries cattle camp and throw the hand grenade which led to the death of seven cows, another’s injured, one person killed, REMNASA claimed the victory of ambushing the army and their Dinka militia, the local youth claim to be the one fighting to expel cattle keepers out of Maridi , state government in the other hand deny the rebellion, says the local youth anger with cattle keepers that led to their killing of people.
In summary what is really happening in Western Equatoria? The state government is seem to be having chameleon colors in all these confusive statements, why people are always killed in targeted killings, a victory that later claim by the REMNASA and then state official are still dismissing the claims and confused the situation as local youth arise against Dinka cattle keepers, when president has already issued the decree. Who is to tell the realties? Since press statement of the national army spoke person has been dismissed by the state minister of information and officials on the emerging of new rebellion.
Please Nyarango boys and Mr. Wesley Waluba the leader, refrain from your act of killing people, because you should not use the fighting against pastoralist as killing of people anyhow in targeted killings, you killed even army when they do not have any cattle but providing protection to you.
I surprise when a state government is not standing at their feet as government but confusing the situation, which is to tell exactly what is going on in Western Equatoria State? Government officials, local youth and REMNASA have no way to be separated in Western Equatoria.
Marol Ariech Mawien is concern South Sudanese living in South Sudan to be reach at marolnyirou@ymail.com
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