South Sudan president summons Boma governor over military clashes
February 28, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudanese President, Salva Kiir, has directed the governor of Boma state to report himself to him in the national capital, Juba, within 48 hours following military clashes in his newly established administrative area.
The clashes, according to many eyewitnesses and non-governmental organizations, was between the South Sudanese army (SPLA) loyal to the new governor and an armed group loyal to former administrator of the ethnic Murle’s Pibor area, David Yau Yau.
“Yes it is true the president has asked the governor of Boma state, comrade Baba Medan Konyi to come within 48 hours for a briefing about general security and political situation in the area because there appears to be a security concern and people are pointing figures unnecessarily,” the presidential source told Sudan Tribune on Sunday.
“We are even hearing that some of the officials have resigned and this has become a great concern not only to our people in the state but also here at the national level. This was why the president decided to call the governor himself to come to Juba, which he did,” he added.
Governor Konyi confirmed in a separate interview with Sudan Tribune on Sunday that he had come to Juba for briefings with the president and members of ethnic Murle about the general situation in the area.
He admitted that armed clashes occurred while he was in the area but that the situation was brought under control before he left for Juba, saying it is now relatively calm in the area. He also denied involvement of the SPLA in the clashes, saying it was between different armed youth groups in the area.
“Yes, there were clashes between youth in Pibor recently. It was not between the youth and the SPLA forces. It was between youth themselves but now this situation has been brought under control. It is now calm and I have come here to brief the president on the general situation,” said Konyi.
The official revealed that he would use the visit to the national capital to meet with various groups from his ethnic Murle tribe to discuss the situation in the area.
“Our people don’t need war. They need peace. This is the message they tell me whenever they come to meet me and this is the message they have asked me to convey to the president and our people in Juba,” he added.
He further said he came to Juba to hear from the citizens of Boma state about their views on peace, reconciliation and “how we can live together as one people.”
The new governor of Boma, one of the 28 controversial states decreed into being by President Salva Kiir last October, has been rejected by a section of the community members who wanted David Yau Yau, former chief administrator of the area, to remain the governor until 2018 elections.
The Murle community said they were not consulted on the appointment of the new governor by the President.
The community also believed that Yau Yau has liberated them from others when he took up arms since 2010, resulting to a peace agreement in 2014 with the government which established a separate special administration for the Murle’s Pibor area, currently upgraded to Boma state.
(ST)