South Sudan confirms suspension of West Equatoria governor for investigation

June 19, 2006 (JUBA) — The southern Sudan government confirmed the arrest of Western Equatoria State governor saying he is suspended only for investigation into the intertribal fighting in the WES.

The Vice President of the government of southern Sudan Riek Machar confirmed the suspension and the arrest of the governor of Western Equatoria State Col. Patrick Zoami pending result of the investigation into the intertribal clashes.

Machar further said that the undertaken investigations had proven his involvement in intertribal fighting which occurred in Yambio and other WES towns between November 2005 to January 2006.

Col Zomai from his arrest in Juba has called for calm and insisted he is innocent as can be proven by everybody in Western Equatoria.

The BBC had broadcasted earlier last week a story stating that Zomai was under arrest for corruption.

It seems that intertribal clashes among the Azande-Moru and the Dinka Bor in the region is going to empoison stability and settlement of the Southern Sudan. In the past, The former Sudanese president transgressed the implementation of Addis Abba agreement and divided the Southern Sudan in three regions pretending that Equatoria people fear Dina domination and asked this repartition.

(ST)