Sudan’s Kakwa tribe condomns Yambio killing, urges calm

The Kakwa Community within and without the Sudan has learnt with shock, disbelief and outrage the senseless and cold-blood murder of one of its sons, Brigadier of Police Michael Sebit Yosua. Brigadier Michael Sebit and two of his colleagues were shot dead in their office by a group of lawless and blood-thirsty members of the Joint Integrated Unit (JIU) of the SPLA in Yambio on Sunday November 4, 2007. The JIU stormed the Police Office and opened fire on the three police officers when they refused to release to them three individuals who were being held as suspects in the killing of a soldier.

Brigadier Michael Sebit Yosua served in the Sudan Police Force for many years before being prematurely retired by the Ingaz government. Two months ago the Government of South Sudan (GOSS) reinstated Michael Sebit into the South Sudan Police Force at the rank of Brigadier and posted him to Yambio. He reported to his station seven days prior to his merciless murder by the criminal elements within the JIU stationed in the Western Equatoria State Capital of Yambio.

This is not the first time that a member of the Kakwa Community has been killed by rogue elements belonging to the SPLA. Just this past year Zaccheous Wani and Robert Natal, both fresh graduates from Makerere University, were innocently killed in Yei by some SPLA soldiers. To date the families of the deceased and the Kakwa Community at large have not been informed whether or not these killers of our people have been brought to justice.

The Kakwa Community condemns in the strongest terms the heinous murder of Brigadier Michael Sebit Yosua and his other two colleagues Lt. Colonel Aboud Abdalla Isa Wani and Major Joseph Erimino Wade. It is worth mentioning here that all the three murdered police officers hail from Equatoria. The Kakwa Community further demands that the Government of South Sudan and especially the leadership of the SPLM/A take immediate steps to apprehend and bring to book the perpetrators of this most senseless crime.

It is the considered view of the Kakwa Community that failure on the part of GOSS and the SPLM/A to take timely punitive measures against these lawless criminals in the JIU of the SPLA will not bode well for the affected communities and families as well as for peace, justice, stability and unity to prevail in the South Sudan. The Community asks for protection under the law and demands the same for all Equatorians and indeed for all South Sudanese. The JIU of the SPLA is supposed to be the nucleus of the future army of the Sudan or the South Sudan, depending on the outcome of the referendum on self-determination for the South in 2011. The masses of the South Sudan expect them to be law abiding and certainly not to be involved in wanton murder of innocent citizens.

The Kakwa Community in Khartoum (KCK), on behalf of all the citizens of Greater Yei and Equatoria, express and convey their deep sorrow and condolences to the families of the murdered police officers Brigadier Michael Sebit Yosua, Lt. Colonel Abbud Abdalla and Major Joseph Erimino Wade. KCK expresses it sympathy and solidarity with all those affected by the killing of these gallant police officers in Yambio on November 4, 2007 by a gang of soldiers belonging to Joint Integrated Unit (JIU) of the SPLA. These offices died on the line of duty defending justice, freedom, equality and unity of our people, who for a long time have been subjected to untold suffering and the abuse of their rights by their enemies.

In spite of the great pain inflicted on our community as a result of these merciless and senseless killings in Yambio, KCK appeals and urges the Kakwa people and indeed the people of greater Yei and Equatoria to remain calm and allow the law to take its course. Let our people take the higher moral ground instead of engaging in acts of revenge. Two wrongs do not make a right. So let us show these killers of innocent citizens that we are different and that we are not cowards but a law abiding people.

The Kakwa Community in Khartoum seizes this opportunity to request the Government of South Sudan (GOSS) to immediately take steps to bring to book all those lawless elements of the JIU who committed these murders in Yambio. KCK believes that taking such drastic action will help serve as a warning and deterrent to those who might contemplate committing murders. KCK further demands that the GOSS puts in place measures which will prevent such deadly incidents from taking place in any part of South Sudan.

Finally, KCK appeals to all citizens of the South to cultivate and promote the culture of peace, love, tolerance, respect and inter-communal existence in order to preserve the unity and integrity of the people of South Sudan. Let the culture of violence, intimidation and wanton abuse of the rights of people be a thing of the past. KCK acknowledges the fact the GOSS faces enormous post-conflict challenges but it (GOSS) should endeavor to instill and promote these values in our people. Our people must be taught and encouraged to develop new attitudes of hard work, peace-building, solidarity and respect for the law of the land.

Simon Edward

Chairman
Kakwa Community in Khartoum (KCK)