South Sudan president warns of punitive measures over “betrayal” activities

October 22, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudanese president, Salva Kiir, has threatened to take punitive measures against anyone who betrays his country, asserting that the country had “killed” people and should not therefore be betrayed.

“This country did not come without sacrifices. It has killed people and if there are people who do not know this for whatever reason, then they have to be told about it, whether they were with us from the beginning or they came to join us for their own reasons and motives,” President Kiir said on Thursday.

The motive of the remarks remained unclear but critics said it could be an apparent reference to his order expelling former presidential affairs minister, Luka Biong Deng, who currently heads the Centre for Peace and Development studies at Juba University.

Kiir had earlier ordered for dismissal of Deng from the university lecturing for hosting a public debate assessing public opinions on the constitutionality and legality of the republican order expanding the constitutionally recognised current 10 states to 28 states.

The move was condemned nationally and internationally as a violation of the peace agreement which president Kiir and his former deputy in government and party, Riek Machar, signed in August to end the 21 months long violent conflict in the country.

But president Kiir said challenging his decision was undermining the sovereignty of the country and people’s demand.

“Whoever is undermining our sovereignty and the demand of our people will have to answer. Those who have been made who they are today by this country and then turn around to turn their backs against the very country can be dealt with, if proven they are playing a negative role,” he warned.

President Kiir, according to one of his confidants, who spoke to Sudan Tribune on Thursday on the condition of anonymity, claimed the head of state was irritated by the activities of people campaigning against his decision to create more administrative units.

The presidential aide however defended the president, saying a decision of the head of state in any country is final and binding because, according to him, he is the last authority to make a decision in the interest of the nation.

“The president is right because it is only South Sudan where decisions of the president are challenged and forced to reverse or put them on hold because of the pressure,” he said.

“Tell me where in the world any one of ambassadors has ever challenged the decision of the president of the host country? This is because we are responsible government and do not want to play a role in any local matters,” he further claimed.

He lashed out to foreign nations and leaders, arguing that South Sudan as a country and its leadership do not interfere in the affairs of other countries and this was what should have been reciprocated by others.

The process of creating the 28 new states has been approved by the national council of ministers and also tabled before the national legislature for further endorsement so as to implement it.

(ST)