Guit community divided over calls for governor’s removal
January 29, 2015 (KAMPALA) – The Guit community from South Sudan’s Unity
state have thrown their support behind caretaker governor Joseph Nguen Monytuel to lead the state government following calls for him to resign.
Youths from Mayom County issued a statement last week calling for Monytuel to step down amid accusations he had failed to unite the various communities across the state since his appointment by president Salva Kiir in July 2013.
In a letter dated 26 January, Guit county youth leader Chaan Chan said the Guit community did not support the calls against Monytuel.
“We the youths from Guit county leadership have rejected the calls by [the] Mayom community for [the] removal of [the] caretaker governor of Unity state,” Chan said.
“It is time to unite behind Monytuel in this particular moment of crisis,” added.
However, Guit community chairman Geng Kuny Puok has dismissed Chan’s comments, saying they reflected his own personal ideology and were not representative of the wider community.
“We are not part of the statement by Chan neither part of [the] state government, but we are pledged for peace to be restored in the Republic of South Sudan,” he added.
In an interview with Sudan Tribune by phone, Puok called for Chan to be punished for speaking out of line according to on traditional customary laws.
“We are warning anyone claiming [to] speak on behalf of [the] community shall be brought to justice by [the] community member’s leadership because he or she
went out of ethnic of community channels,” said Puok, accusing Chan of inflaming hostilities.
Under traditional customary laws local chiefs or community leaders have authority to act in response to any violation committed by community members.
There are growing calls in Unity state for Monytuel’s removal, although there remains strong division among the various groups.
It was reported last month that Maj. Gen. Mathew Pul Jang, a former militiaman now in control of Unity state capital Bentiu and Mayom county had petitioned Kiir demanding Monytuel’s removal.
A well-placed source within the ruling SPLM party told Sudan Tribune on condition of anonymity that former militias have touted former Mayom county commissioner John Madeng Gatduel as a possible successor.
It is not yet clear whether the petition will sway KIir to act, however, the source claimed Jang was well regarded by the president for his active combat role against the country’s rebel forces led by former vice-president Riek Machar in Unity state.
(ST)