Machar condemns alleged assassination attempt on Western Equatoria governor

JUBA – South Sudan’s First Vice President Riek Machar Teny on Tuesday condemned an alleged assassination attempt on Western Equatoria Governor Alfred Futuyo Karaba and called on President Salva Kiir Mayardit to reinstate officials recently removed by presidential decrees.

Machar, leader of the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), rejected Kiir’s decision to dismiss National Minister of Health Yolanda Awel Deng and Governor Futuyo, saying the move violated the 2018 peace agreement.

“[The SPLM-IO] rejects the unilateral decision made by the President to remove Hon. Yolanda Awel Deng, the Minister of Health and H.E. Gen. Alfred Futuyo Karaba, the Governor of Western Equatoria State, from their offices as the decrees violate the replacement and removal procedures under Article 1.13 of the R-ARCSS,” Machar said in a statement after the group’s meeting.

“[The SPLM-IO] calls on the President to reinstate Hon. Yolanda Awel Deng, the Minister of Health and H.E. Gen. Alfred Futuyo Karaba, the Governor of Western Equatoria State to their respective offices,” the statement added.

Kiir issued the decrees late Monday, removing Futuyo and Deng, without publicly providing reasons. The dismissals, which also included senior government officials Vice-Presidents James Wani Iga and Hussein Abdelbaggi, drew criticism from Machar’s camp, which described them as a setback to the fragile peace process.

The SPLM-IO also accused government forces of targeting its members in Western Equatoria and Western Bahr el Ghazal. The group condemned what it called an “assassination attempt” on Governor Karaba at his official residence and attacks on SPLM-IO members in Yambio, Tombura, and Nagero counties.

“[The SPLM-IO] condemns the assassination attempt on the life of the Governor of Western Equatoria State and the lives of members of his family at his official residence, and other SPLM-IO members in Yambio, Tombura and Najjero Counties by the elements of the SSPDF,” it said.

The SPLM-IO further alleged ongoing military operations by the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) in Koburi Bou, Najjero County, and Ngap, Jur River County, saying they resulted in atrocities against civilians.

“[The SPLM-IO] Further condemns the ongoing atrocities meted out on the civilians and violations of Security Arrangements in Koburi Bou in Najjero County of Western Equatoria State and Ngap in Jur River County of Western Bahr El Ghazal State by the SSPDF. The Political Bureau calls for the unconditional release of the Security Advisor of the Government of Western Bahr El Ghazal State and the Commissioner of Jur River County,” the statement said.

“[The SPLM-IO] calls on CTSAMVM to investigate the violations cited in paragraph 3 and 4 above and hold the perpetrators accountable,” it added.

The SPLM-IO warned that continued unilateral decisions by Kiir threaten the peace agreement.

“The Political Bureau calls on President Salva Kiir to uphold the R-ARCSS as the persistent violations through unilateral decisions and decrees threaten the very existence of the Agreement,” the statement concluded.

There was no immediate response from Kiir’s office regarding the SPLM-IO’s accusations and demands.