Governor Aleu of Warrap dismisses ‘false’ SPLM-IO claims of death threats

JUBA — The governor of South Sudan’s Warrap state Gen. Aleu Ayieny Aleu has dismissed as false claims by opposition lawmakers allied to First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny that SPLM-IO lawmakers are living in fear after the governor allegedly threatened to kill them for not cooperating with him.

On Monday morning, Warrap lawmakers representing the SPLM-IO in the recently reconstituted transitional parliament alleged that Governor Aleu had declared war against SPLM-IO constitutional post holders and had also gone as far as threatening to kill them.

The lawmakers went on to claim that Governor Aleu had harassed, intimidated one of state ministers on the ticket of the SPLM-IO during a cabinet meeting held on 14 October 2021 in Kuajok.

“The alarming claim that I have threatened members of the IO during the swearing in ceremony on October 13, 2021, that I threatened to kill the SPLM-IO post holders, or that I have declared war on the SPLM-IO is false,” Governor Aleu said in a statement extended to Sudans Post on Wednesday morning.

He said claims labeled against him by the SPLM-IO members of the August House in Juba are politically motivated, and encouraged by some well-known politicians seeking the position of governor of Warrap state.

“I take this opportunity to reiterate to the public that the SPLM-IG in Warrap State is implementing the R-ARCSS in spirit and letter, and to this effect, I am working in harmony with peace partners, including members of the SPLM-IO,” he said.

“I would like to assure the public that the people of Warrap State will not accept any attempt to take them back to those days when communal violence was high, cattle theft rampant and innocent deaths recorded on a daily basis,” he added.

He cautioned the lawmakers against reacting to uninvestigated, unsubstantiated allegations, adding that it violates the legislative norms of the August House.

“I have been in constant consultative contact with the Chairman of the SPLM-IO and H.E. FVP, Dr. Riek Machar, and by agreement with him, has dispatched (on October 12, 2021) the SPLM-IO State Chairman to Kuajok – on my invitation – all these happened before the sudden uproar of the SPLM-IO MPs in Juba,” he said.