Gov’t ‘disappointed’ by Peter Biar’s testimony before US lawmakers, urges citizens to avoid destroying county’s image

JUBA – South Sudan government on Wednesday said it is disappointed by the testimony of exiled economist and youth leader Peter Biar Ajak before the US Congress warning citizens against being used by others to tarnish the image of the world’s youngest nation.

The government expression of disappointment came after Biar called on the United States of America to impose sanctions on Director-General of South Sudan National Security, Gen. Akol Koor Kuc for gross human rights violation in the country.

Speaking to Sudans Post in an exclusive interview this morning, South Sudan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Deng Dau Deng, said the act of talking against the government is unacceptable.

“We, the government has regretted and are disappointed with the way some desperate citizens of South Sudan are being used to tarnish the image of the Republic of South Sudan,” Dau said.

The senior government official and top diplomat said he regretted seeing Peter Biar ‘talking against’ the government which pardoned him after being sentenced to jail for two years for ‘inciting violence and disturbing peace’ in the country.

“Biar like the rest of South Sudanese who have committed crimes in one way or another was pardoned by the President and allowed to travel safely to wherever he wished and now turn to talking against the government is something that we regret,” Dau added.

“I don’t think there is a ground for any sanctions any further because South Sudan is in the process of implementing the revitalized peace agreement,” he added.

He revealed that the government is working hard to establish transitional justice institutions to address violations committed during more than six years of conflict.

“We have now moved to implement chapter five of the agreement which is concerning transitional justice and reconciliation and healing. All issues that are related to crimes committed during the war, there are mechanisms to be put in place and any citizen who felt offended would be allowed to seek justice in our court,” he said.

Economist Peter Biar Ajak was arrested in July, 2018 and charged with treason, although a court threw out those charges early last year.

He had been publicly critical of the way Kiir and Machar approached peace talks to end the civil war.