Kiir directs spy agency to release classified information regarding civil war

JUBA – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit has ordered the country’s National Security Service (NSS) and a law firm known as BRL to publicize information regarding the beginning of the deadly conflicts in December 2013 and July 2016 saying it will help propel the country toward permanent peace in the country.

Kiir made the remarks during a press conference he held at the ministry of cabinet affairs on Monday after just a day after heavily armed security forces were deployed at the residence of his first deputy Dr. Riek Machar Teny who doubles as the chairman of the main armed opposition SPLM-IO.

The South Sudanese president said the revitalized peace agreement’s implementation process does need transparency to advance and as such he is directing the country’s spy agency and BRL law firm to release classified information regarding the start of the civil war.

“For the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement to be genuine, we need transparency on the root causes of the conflict. It is for this reason that I am directing the National Security Service and its partner, the BRL Law Firm to declassify all information about the conflict’s genesis in their possession (intercepts audios and personal accounts),” Kiir said.

“This is very important so that the people of South Sudan know the truth and judge for themselves from the position of this knowledge. We must say the truth, because genuine reconciliation has its basis on it. This will also support the process of healing in our country,” he added.

Kiir assured those who will be implicated in the report of a presidential amnesty saying that is important in ensuring that the release of the documents does not create alarms among the public and said that the release of the information will result in the moving of the country forward.

“Having said that, I need to state clearly that those who may be implicated by the declassified information that is going to be released are guaranteed presidential pardon. So, there is no cause for alarm over this. All we are interested in is for the public to know the truth about the background of the conflict in our country,” he said.

“I hope after the release of this information, we can all move forward with permanent peace building that will create harmony and prosperity in our country. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen of the press,” he added.