Kiir told to remove disgraced Unity State Governor

JUBA – South Sudan’s transitional Council of States has asked President Salva Kiir Mayardit to remove the governor of the country’s Unity State, Dr. Joseph Nguen Manytuil Wijang, who was impeached on Monday over recent extrajudicial killings in Mayom County of the oil-rich state.

The CoS voted with an overwhelming majority to impeach Manytuil who is accused of overseeing the extrajudicial execution of four senior opposition officers belonging to South Sudan People’s Movement/Army (SSPM/A) led by Gen. Stephen Buay Rolnyang.

The execution of the rebel officers which sparked international and local condemnations took place at Kaikang just less than two weeks after they allegedly led an attack on Mayom town killing the commissioner Maj-Gen. Chuol Gatluak Manimeh.

In a letter addressed to the president, the Council of States said the governor was scrutinized and impeached because he has “failed to address the security crises in the state and its neighbors.”

The council said it “…condemn…. the killing, rapping, abduction and burning of the innocent civilians of Leer County, and destruction of their properties and looting of their sources of livelihood” as well as “the killing of Hon. James Chuol Gatluak Manime, the Commissioner of Mayom County and thirteen (13) security guards, and family members on 22^nd July, 2022.”

They also cited “the ambush of the SSPDF convoy which resulted in the killing of eighteen (18) SSPDF soldiers and civilians burning them into ashes in Thepchar in Bich Payam of Mayom County on 26th July, 2022.”

They further said that the “extra-judicial killing of the suspects in Mayom County on 8th August, 2022 which is against the Constitution and the International Humanitarian law that tarnished the image of our country, and its leadership.”

They asked the president to take Manytuil because “the Hon. Governor failed to address the security crises in the State and its neighbors.”