Warrap speaker calls for unity against external aggression
April 24, 2012 (JUBA) – Amidst border tensions and conflict with neighbouring Sudan, the speaker of South Sudan’s Warrap State, Madot Deng Madut, has called for unity and harmony between himself, parliament and the governor.
Madut noted that there has been “encouraging” progress in the working relations between the state’s executive led by governor Nyandeng Malek and the parliament, which has been constant thorn in her side over the last six months.
Relations between governor Malek and the assembly reached a nadir in August last year when some MPs accused her of involvement in the arrest and torture of Dominic Deng Mayom Akeen, the representative for Tonj North County.
MPs accused the governor of ordering his arrest for a statement he made to the media about prevalence of hunger in the area and reported deaths among returnees to South Sudan due food shortages. Governor Malek denied the charges.
Backbench MPs in the Warrap State parliament attempted to vote Malek out of office but she managed to hold onto her position. However, relations with state speaker Madut soured over the autumn and in December he was accused of passing the state’s new constitution without following proper procedures in order to protect his own position. Madut has also denied the claims.
Speaking to Sudan Tribune on Tuesday Madut admitted that some MPs had attempted to be “confusing” to the assembly but added the same MPs were now cooperating and supporting plans put forward by the administration in Kuacjok.
Speaker Madut said that hunger and insecurity along South Sudan’s border with Sudan to the north are some of the main challenges facing Warrap. To address the issues the parliament would have to be united and support the executive, he said.
Warrap State, like the five other states along the border have launched recruitment campaigns to boost the numbers in South Sudan’s military. The training of over 1,500 young men, in preparation for the event that the current border conflict escalates into a full-scale war, began this week.
“We have come to what I believe is a critical moment in which South Sudan requires one position regardless of our differences. And now is the time for all of us to stand together,” he said.
“Working together, we can change and deliver to the expectations of our people. Working together, I am confident that they will go further still,” he said. “And together, we will explore the many tangible and practical ways in which we secure help against external aggression.”
South Sudan has expressed fears that the Sudanese army (SAF) may be preparing for a ground assault on Unity State, where fighting has erupted over the last month. Juba says it was provoked by SAF attacks into occupying the Heglig oil region, which its has since pulled out of.
SAF bombs on Unity State killed at least two people on Monday. The UN have condemned the fighting and is calling for the two sides to resume negotiations.
South Sudan seceded from Sudan in July last year but failure to demarcate the border, sign agreements on oil, nationality, debt and other issues have fueled tensions culminating in the current conflict.
However Warrap’s speaker remained optimistic: “Many challenges lie ahead. Many concerns have yet to be addressed. Yet I am convinced that we have an unprecedented opportunity to help the country advance toward a better future.”
(ST)