Unity state reacts to Machar’s sacking as South Sudan VP
July 25, 2013 (BENTIU) – Unity state residents who spoke to Sudan Tribune this week have reacted negatively to the presidential decree dissolving South Sudan’s cabinet and relieving the vice president Riek Machar, who comes from the oil-rich state.
People on the streets of Bentiu, the state capital, told Sudan Tribune that they were surprised by Kiir’s decision to fire his longtime deputy, in a decree broadcast on state-television on Tuesday. Kiir appointed Machar in 2005, shortly after former Southern rebels – the SPLM – signed a landmark peace deal with the Khartoum government ending decades of civil war.
South Sudan seceded from Sudan in 2011 as part of the landmark deal but the SPLM government has struggled to maintain security, provide services and prevent widespread corruption.
Over the last year Machar had become increasingly critical or Kiir and the government’s performance. Tension between the two came to a head last month when Machar openly declared for the first time that he intended to compete to be the SPLM’s presidential candidate in elections scheduled for 2015.
The citizens from Unity state, who Sudan Tribune interviewed this week were largely critical of Kiir’s decision to sack is deputy.
Peter Par Nhial, who sells medicine in Kalibalek market in Unity state’s capital, described the president’s decree as cowardly.
“It is a cowardice act, because if you’re told today that we are going to contest and you remove somebody. He also going to be removes by the assembly also off course he is not going to contest again while he is in the seat”, said Nhial.
Tito Gatchang Keah, who fought in the civil war that led to separation from Sudan, said that the removal of cabinets ministers is a good idea, but disagreed with president’s firing his vice president as it threatened national stability.
Machar, is from the Nuer ethnic group, South Sudan’s second largest after the Dinka.
“I was a soldier in the republic of South Sudan I know the leader that can be capable of running the needs or services for the republic of South Sudan citizens. Dr Machar what I know from him is the right person in the government, he has been trying so much that South Sudan have to move forward as the country and that is why you have seen him going to Khartoum recently for the benefits of South Sudan citizens”, said Keah.
The former vice president went to discuss post-secession issues with his Sudanese counterpart, Ali Osman Taha, just days before his dismissal.
On Tuesday, Yang Chuol Simon, told Sudan Tribune said he was not happy with Machar’s removal arguing that it will destroy the young nation’s progress.
In Leer county, where Machar was born, primary schools pupils went on strike leading to the detention of the headmaster and his deputy of failing to convinced students to return to their classrooms.
Leer county commissioner Gabriel Dor told Sudan Tribune on Thursday that the situation is calm and urged general public not to lose hope. He said that Machar could be reinstated as the president had not yet formed a new government.
Many others in Unity state would not comment on the issue.
On Thursday Sudan Tribune correspondent Bonifacio Taban and Internews reporter Simon Lieth Nyak, were detained by Unity state security personal in Bentiu while covering community reaction to the dissolution of the entire government.
(ST)