![South Sudan lawmakers representing Warrap state speak at a presser to publicize alleged threat by governor of Warrap state on October 18, 2021. [Photo by Awan Achiek/Sudans Post]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/IMG_20211018_153215_583-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C631&ssl=1)
JUBA — South Sudan’s main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny has accused the government of the country’s Warrap state of carrying out extrajudicial killings in different parts of the state.
This comes a few months after the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said its human rights department documented several cases of extrajudicial killings in several parts of Bahr el Ghazal region’s Warrap and, in some cases, in Lakes state.
Speaking during a press conference in Juba on Monday, SPLM-IO members of parliament representing Warrap state in the recently reconstituted national legislature said there is a secretly imposed state of emergency in Warrap which they said has led to extrajudicial killings in several parts of the state.
“There is an undeclared state of emergency in Warrap since Governor Aleu was appointed over 46 people (Tonj North 23, Tonj South 9, Tonj East 10, Twic 1 Gogiral West3) have been executed in the state without due process of law,” Yolanda Awel Deng, one of the SPLM-IO lawmakers, said.
The lawmakers said while the main armed opposition Machar-led SPLM-IO is a party to the state transitional government in Warrap state, it has no connections to the perpetuation of the alleged extrajudicial killings.
“The SPLM-IO has nothing to do with these extra-judicial kilings,” Awel stated.
The lawmakers said Governor Gen. Aleu Ayieny Aleu has been threatening to kill members of the SPLM-IO in the state which they called a violation of the revitalized peace agreement and then threatened to withdraw from Warrap state government or ask for protection from UNMISS.
“He (the governor) harassed and intimidated one of the cabinet members in the meeting in front of everyone mistaking him for being an SPLM-IO member, asked the SPLM-IO party members in the hall to stand up, which was done, accused the SPLM-IO party members as the ones causing chaos in the state, accused the SPLM-IO of lack of cooperation with him (the Governor), threatened to kill SPLM-IO constitutional post holders, and finally declared war against the SPLM-IO party,” Aweil said.
“If there is no change in the situation, our members will withdraw from the state or request protection by UNMISS, we demand for the opening of political and civic space for all party members in the state, de-politicization of civil service, chiefs, payam administrations, and ensuring that those holding such positions be non-partisan and call upon security organs to continue being neutral and non-partisan,” she added.
