South Sudan’s Nuer in government celebrate defection of community figure from rebels
July 19, 2015 (JUBA) – Intellectuals and youth of South Sudan’s members of the Nuer ethnic group from Rubkona county in the oil-rich Unity state on Sunday convened a welcoming and thanksgiving ceremony for the return of Major General James Gai Yoach, who defected this month from the rebel faction led by former vice president, Riek Machar, and rejoined president Salva Kiir’s government.
General Yoach switched allegiance after taking part in the rebellion against the government since the conflict broke out in December 2013. The circumstances under which he decided to return remained unclear.
A statement released by Rubokona youth allied to the government, copy of which was extended to Sudan Tribune, stressed that the defected officer will be a beacon of peace and prosperity, claiming no more fighting would take place in Unity state.
The statement further revealed that the defection was part of internal engagement initiated by the governor of Unity state, Joseph Nguen Monytuil, a Nuer from the Bul-Nuer section and members of a section of Yoach’s Leek-Nuer aimed at persuading them to abandon the struggle.
“The public has to be informed that the return of Gen. James Gai Yoach with his forces to rejoin the government of South Sudan was the work of Leek’s sons in the government of Unity state. The Leek’s sons in the state government of Dr. Joseph Nguen Montuil had a secret dialogue with Leek’s sons in the rebellion regarding the stability of Rubkotni county,” partly reads the statement.
“After conducting confidential meetings, the Leek’s sons in the rebellion of Riek Machar concluded that Leek community in Unity state did not have any problem with the government of South Sudan as well as [with] governor Nguen Montuil Wejang,” it further reads.
The statement claimed that Leek-Nuer and Bul-Nuer section, which is pro-Salva Kiir’s regime, have the highest rate of intermarriages, saying majority of the current pro-government political leaders from the two Nuer sections share blood.
The statement congratulated president Kiir for allegedly being a good shepherd who always forgave those who took up arms against the state.
“The humble and kind leadership of our president is a gift that keeps the country together. Had it not been for the unifying spirit of our president, late Paulino Matip, could not have joined the SPLA and the government of South Sudan in 2006. The people of South Sudan are blessed to have a visionary, kind and forgiving leader like president Salva Kiir Mayardit,” declares the statement.
Sons and daughters of the Nuer community hold several ministerial positions in the national government including the current speaker of the national legislative assembly in Juba.
Observers from the Nuer community however said the government led by the Dinka ethnic group seemed to be scoring success in dividing the Nuer community, which is the main political rival in the country.
They also expressed doubt whether the alliance between some Nuer sections in Unity state and the government will hold for long, claiming that this was simply based on dislike generated against former Unity state governor, Taban Deng Gai, who has been leading peace negotiations for rebels with the government in Addis Ababa.
(ST)