Chollo community and students back new rebels in Upper Nile
October 31, 2015 (KAMPALA) – Members of the Chollo community and students in Uganda have expressed support for the new rebel group led by Gen. Yoanes Okij, who defected from South Sudan government last week.
Omojok Obac, the secretary general of Fashoda students association in universities and colleges in Uganda said the 2 October decree creating 28 states in South Sudan has confiscated much of Shilluk kingdom territories.
“We welcome Gen. Okij’s decision to protect the Chollo land and the people of South Sudan against dictatorship government of Salva Kiir,” he said, describing the current regime as an “enemy” of its own citizens.
Obac alleged a big portion of land owned by the Chollo people in the east, including Malakal town was rewarded to the Dinka tribe by president Kiir.The student leader further accused Dinka leaders of allegedly using “divide and rule” policy, which would allegedly undermine efforts by stakeholder to bring peace and unity in the country.
“One of ramification of Gen. Okij is the division of Chollo Kingdom into two part in West Nile and other in East of the Nile. The overall objective of such division is to ensure tribal domination and annexation of other tribes including Chollo territories in the eastern bank including its historical city of Malakal town to newly established Dinka state,” he said.
Mark Fidel Nyika, another Chollo community member, told Sudan Tribune that the last month’s presidential order was frustrating and could ignite conflicts in the country.
“Our movement is not against the Dinka or any tribe in South Sudan, but we are against the government’s decision which has taken away our land to our brothers. The problem in South Sudan is not about Dinka, but the mess is from the head of state,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Chollo community urged Okij to rejoin ranks with the armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO) led by the country’s former vice president Riek Machar.
“We are requesting our brothers, the Chollo forces to come together under umbrella of Sudan People Liberation Movement-In-Opposition or SPLM-IO to bring equality and justice in South Sudan,” Obac further told Sudan Tribune.
An alliance of South Sudanese political parties filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking nullification of President Kiir’s 2 October decree on creation of 28 new states.
(ST)