S. Sudanese youth protest deployment of regional troops
July 19, 2016 (BOR) – Hundreds of pro-government youth took to the streets of Bor, the Jonglei state capital, protesting deployment of regional troops in Africa’s newest nation.
The youth, in a petition letter addressed to the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, accused the world body of not being impartial in the current crisis.
“We the people and masses of Jonglei state hereby reject and condemned with strongest possible terms the unrealistic request of AU to handover Juba airport to the UN. We reject the conspiracy if invasion of a sovereignty state of South Sudan by foreign governments”, partly read the letter, also copied to the African Union, the regional bloc (IGAD), regional as well as international bodies.
The petition claimed the compromised peace accord, was designed by IGAD and backed by the UN to “frustrate and president and in order to step down such that a puppet and malleable leader assumes power in South Sudan”.
“Brokers of the deal pressurized the president into signing the unworkable formation of the transitional government of national unity (TGoNU)”, it noted.
They claimed the UN rushed into condemning the country’s leaders over the recent outbreak of clashes in the capital, Juba, which led to death of hundreds.
The letter does not also spare South Sudanese politicians who called for regime change, describing them as “puppets” who intend to destabilize South Sudan.
Youth also disrupted a meeting between the UN and the state governor during the protest. Some even pelted stones at UN vehicles in anger at the situation.
The state governor, Phillip Aguer also sided with the youth during the protest in Bor.
“Why take over Juba International airport? Did anyone or the government of South Sudan refused anyone to be evacuated? Did UN forces resolve the conflict in Darfur? Didn’t super powers learned from the death of Muammar Gaddafi in Libya?” Aguer said as the protestors cheered on Tuesday.
The youth were blocked by police near Bor airport and prevented from reaching the UN camp, while some a few of them were asked to take the petition to the UN gate.
(ST)