JUBA — South Sudan’s Former Political Detainees (FDs) on Monday distanced themselves from recent remarks by Vice President for the Youth and Gender Cluster, Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior, accusing her of inciting young people for political purposes.
VP Nyandeng delivered a fiery message during the funeral prayers of late former minister Kosti Manibe.
In her remarks, she criticized the political direction of South Sudan and questioned who was providing oversight of President Salva Kiir.
She also used the funeral gathering to urge South Sudanese to speak openly about the problems facing the country.
Addressing journalists at a press conference on Monday in Juba, Isaiah Hakim Garang, the FDs’ parliamentary whip, said Nyandeng’s remarks do not represent their position and warned young people against being drawn into political confrontation.
“We, as former political detainees, are not part of whatever happened during the funeral of [late] Honorable Kosti Manibi. And we are condemning that very strongly,” Garang said.
Garang, who doubles as a member of the High-Level Committee on the Implementation of the Peace Agreement, said the group strongly rejected what he described as incitement.
Garang said political grievances should not be addressed by mobilizing young people to confront the government.
“We know people are facing problems in South Sudan. But we cannot do it through taking guns,” he said.
He said citizens had the constitutional right to demonstrate peacefully but warned against what he described as attempts to incite young people for political purposes.
“Everyone has the right to demonstrate through process. This is the right of South Sudanese. But to mobilize and to incite the young people to go out for personal, individual benefit, we are not for that.”
He said the FDs is part of the SPLM and the unity government established under the peace agreement.
“Our position is very clear. We are standing with our president, Salva Kiir Mayardit, and the flag bearer of the SPLM,” he said.
He warned young people against listening to politicians who could lead them into violence.
“Our advice to the youth of South Sudan: do not listen to the politicians. We are going to the elections. The end of the agreement is in the elections.”
He reiterated the commitment of FDs to the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement and conduct of elections by December this year.
