Leer violence investigation committee preparing to visit southern Unity state – spokesman

JUBA — The investigation committee formed by President Salva Kiir Mayardit to investigate southern Unity state violence is preparing to visit the area almost a month after the president formed the committee, a spokesman has said.

Gatkuoth Wichar, the head of information for the committee told Sudans Post in an exclusive interview that the two weeks time given by the president for the committee to report will commence with the visit of the committee to southern Unity.

Kiir last last month formed a committee to investigate the violence that rocked Leer last month following deadly fighting between armed youth from Mayendit and Koch, on one side, against those from Leer.

An unknown number civilians including women and children have reportedly been killed, but none of the parties have admitted responsibility for the death of the innocent civilians.

Kiir gave the committee only fourteen days to report back to him, but the committee is still in Juba and is preparing to leave to start the investigation, according to  Wichar.

“The 14 days will commence by the time the committee travel to the places where incidents occurred not from the date of the appointment of the committee and I hope the public will also get it better from here since many people misunderstood at what time you can start counting 14 working days as stipulated in the appointment decree by H.E the President,” he told Sudans Post.

“Therefore, you cannot talk of time elapse when the committee has not yet started visiting concerned areas. It doesn’t make sense. The President said he would start counting the days after the committee traveled to field,” he added.