Kumba threatens legal remedies against Futuyo for ‘defamation’

JUBA, SEPTEMBER 19, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – The speaker of South Sudan’s parliament Jemma Nunu Kumba on Sunday said she has instructed her lawyers to study allegations made against her by Western Equatoria State Governor Alfred Futuyo Karaba and recommend legal actions that she should take.

Late last month, Futuyo wrote to President Salva Kiir asking him to remove Kumba, alleging that the first woman speaker of parliament was involved in criminal activities in Western Equatoria. These activities include killings and plans for establishment of a new country along South Sudan’s borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Central African Republic.

In a statement its statement dated September 17, 2023, Kumba’s office denied the claims made by Futuyo and termed it defamatory.

“Gen. Futuyo’s document raises slanderous, false and malicious allegations against Rt. Hon. Jemma Nunu Kumba for various alleged crimes of murder, rebellions, destabilization of the state (country), fueling of wars, undermining the president, and more,” the statement said.

“It is very astonishing that someone in a high-profile national leadership position, such as a State Governor can indulge in uttering ridiculous things without any evidence at all,” it added.

It said that Kumba “has served the country with utmost dedication since the liberation struggle and after independence in various capacities including a six-year tenure as Acting Secretary General of SPLM, the ruling party.

“She has always demonstrated the characteristics of competence, honesty, loyalty and commitment to the President and the nation.”

SANCTIONED WAR CRIMINAL

The statement went on to attack Futuyo, describing him as a sanctioned war criminal and that his allegations against Kumba were intended to divert the attention of the general public from investigations the statement said are taking place against him.

“On the contrary, Futuyo is a sanctioned war criminal who has been sanctioned by sections of the international community for serious crimes, including rape and other forms of sexual violence against the citizens of South Sudan (see US Department of the Treasury Press Release dated June 20th, 2023),” the statement said.

“The attack on the person of the Rt. Hon Speaker is no doubt intended to divert investigations that have been opened against him for other crimes and for his persistent failure to protect the citizens of the state,” the statement added.

It said that given “Futuyo should not be allowed to freely and publicly utter inconsiderate things that make this country look ridiculous in the eyes of the rest of the world” and called on the public to “ignore Futuyo’s false and malicious allegations and treat the same with the contempt it deserves.”

The statement further said that Kumba “has instructed her lawyers, both national and international, to look into the wild allegations made by Futuyo and to recommend appropriate legal remedies to deal with the defamation.”