Rebecca Garang attacked at Juba church service

November 29, 2015 (JUBA) – Rebecca Nyandeng, the wife of South Sudan’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) founder, John Garang was reportedly assaulted at Emmanuel Jieng church in Juba, forcing some members of the congregation to abandon Sunday’s church service in protest.

Nyandeng, accompanied by some of the former political detainees, was asked by the pastor to kneel before the congregation for prayers. She was joined by Majaak D’Agoot and two others.Suddenly, an angry woman reportedly approached the podium and attempted to slap Nyandeng, only to be restrained.

She, however, hulled insults at the former first lady whom she accused of allegedly “betraying” her community. The woman reportedly demanded that Nyandeng as well brings her son, Mabior Garang for prayers.

Nyandeng is accused of having allegedly “sold out” the government by siding with South Sudan’s armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO) members. She has been critical of government and most supporters of the regime from her home area of Twic East and Bor have condemned her for publicly exposing civilian deaths in Juba, ignoring those killed in Bor.

While Mabior joined the SPLM-IO headed by former vice-president Riek Machar, his mother remained with the country’s former political detainees led by Pagan Amum.

Meanwhile the motive of Sunday’s attack, however, remains a subject of speculations.

(ST)