General Buay says he played role in protecting Nuer civilians during 2013 killings

JUBA – South Sudan’s former army officer General Stephen Buay Rolnyang who defected to Join General Paul Malong Awan in May gas said that his decision to remain behind with President Salva Kiir Mayardit played great role in the protection of Nuer civilians in the aftermath of the Juba massacre.

This comes after some social media users from the Nuer blamed the experienced army officer for join General Paul Malong Awan – the former army chief who is seen as one of the most involved officers in the killing of the Nuer civilians in Juba in December 2013.

“Despite we thought it was a peaceful democratic leadership process within the SPLM leadership which rapidly degenerated into a full scale war, we the Nuer generals and politicians who remained on the government side played a great role in 2013, crisis, by protecting some of Nuer civilians who were left behind in the government controlled areas, who would be targeted by non – civilized Dinka as they did in Juba and other areas by killing the Nuer,” General Buay said.

“So, I think we deserve a great appreciation for that if you don’t know,” he added.

He further said he didn’t kill any innocent Nuer during his operations in Upper Nile state.

” I did not kill any innocent Nuer person, except those who got killed at the front line in our self- defence by the forces under my command who were also mainly from the Nuer sons and daughters, as the Nuer soldiers made up 60% of the forces of 1st infantry Division deployed in Upper Nile region,” he added.