Kiir says he was quoted ‘out of context’ after saying he ‘cannot stop’ Upper Nile violence

JUBA – South Sudan presidency on Wednesday evening issued a statement backtracking from remarks by President Salva Kiir Mayardit in which he told a gathering of the National Liberation Council meeting on Tuesday that he “cannot stop” Upper Nile violence.

Speaking during the closing session of the SPLM National Liberation Council meeting on Tuesday at Freedom Hall, Kiir said there is fighting in eastern Nuer area of Jakow and also on the West Bank of the Nile between armed youth from Jonglei and Shilluk, but cannot stop it.

“There is war in Eastern Nuer in Jakow and there is war in the Chollo Kingdom,” Kiir told the high-level SPLM gathering.

“Who are those fighting there, they are our brothers and sisters and I cannot stop them. Using a sustainable peace in our country is what I will use,’ he added.

But in a statement this evening, the presidency clarified that Kiir was quoted out of context and the president meant to say that he cannot stop the violence alone given its complex nature.

“The Presidential Press Unit would like to clarify the statement made by His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan at the closing of the SPLM National Liberation Council Ordinary Meeting regarding ongoing violence in the Upper Nile,” the presidency said.

“While deploring the sub-national violence in the Upper Nile Region that is taking toll on innocent civilians, the President said he cannot stop it alone. Some media houses took this statement out of context by insinuating that the President has taken his hands off this issue. This interpretation is not true,” it added.

It stressed further that “The statement does not mean that President Kiir is willfully neglecting what is taking place in that region nor does it imply his government inability to solve the problem.”