Governor Chol Thon Balok: My government did not call for the expulsion of Shilluk and Nuer communities from Malakal.
Eastern Nile State
Office of the Governor
Press Office
Coordination Office-Juba
Date: March 22nd,2016
Re: Press Release on allegations and accusations attributed to Governor of Eastern Nile State
March 25, 2016 (SSB) —- The Press Officer in the office of the Governor of the Eastern Nile State would like to clarify to South Sudanese People in particular and to the International Community about the accusations and allegations, which are attributed from time to time to the Governor of Eastern Nile that he had dismissed and ended the services of workers from Latjor and Western Nile States.
These allegations and accusation are baseless and unfounded. The fact is that he had did not dismiss any civil servant from the State, but is the state Secretary General that he had written the release letters to the former Upper Nile State civil servants from Latjor and Western Nile states so that they can report themselves to their duty stations in the new States of Latjor and Western Nile.
The procedures that has been taken by the State SG, it is the same procedures that is taking place in other old ten States of South Sudan, this is happening to implement the directives of the President in his meeting with the Governors of the 28 States on the division of assets and the operating budget including chapter one (the salaries), and the said measures are output of meeting of the committee formed for that purpose.
Furthermore, on allegations that the Governor of Eastern Nile has expelled citizens of the states including the citizens from Western Nile and Latjor states and foreign Nationals from the state, they are also baseless allegations and lack evidences.
The truth is that H.E. the Governor has been repeating in his public speeches that his first goal in the state is to work for peace, reconciliation and to unite all the tribes of the former Upper Nile state who are residing in his state and therefore, he cannot work contrary to what he had promised them.
In addition, the Governor of Eastern Nile State did not issue any order for the expulsion of any citizen living in Eastern Nile state, including the citizens of Latjor and Western Nile State and even the citizens from other parts of South Sudan and as well as foreign nationals.
Moreover, he did not issue any resolution for seizure of homes and properties of citizens who do not belong to the Eastern Nile ethnically. On contrary, Lt. Gen. Chol Thon Balok, the Governor of state has been appealing to all citizens to return to their homes, including Malakal town, which has become safer. In response to his call many citizens from Shilluk are performing their normal business in Malakal main market without any problem, their restaurants, cafes are opened and they sell other consuming goods to their customers. All these activities disprove the allegations which say that Shilluk citizens were expelled from Eastern Nile State.
In addition, contrary to above allegations, the Governor of the state is working tirelessly to unify the communities of the former Upper Nile state, and other communities of South Sudan in his state. Recently peace and reconciliation conference was held in Malakal to achieve that purpose. He is doing so in order to mend the social fabric of all tribes of South Sudan and to return them to their normal lives to situation before the events of December 2013.
In conclusion, this is what we want to clarify to people of South Sudan and International community so that they may not be misled by anti-peace groups and war mongers, for such misleading information only create dissension and violence among South Sudanese communities and create instability in the Eastern Nile State.
Thank you
Press Secretary
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