Makuei calls Kuol Manyang’s remarks ‘sensitive’, refuses to comment

JUBA – South Sudan information minister and government spokesman Michael Makuei Lueth has refused to comment over what he calls sensitive comments by former defense minister and senior presidential advisor Kuol Manyang Juuk.

Since last week, Juuk who has been serving in the government since 2005 has been making admissions such as failure to deliver services by the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) party.

Speaking during a swearing in ceremony of the Jonglei state’s revitalized transitional government, Juuk said the government has failed and killed citizens which he said is something contrary to promises made during the war by the former rebel movement.

In an interview with the Juba-based journalist Mathiang Cirilo, Juuk accused unnamed members of the former Sudan ruling party, the National Congress Party of taking over the government saying he has also been denied meeting with President Salva Kiir by security advisor Tutkew Gatluak who once served as a close ally to former Sudanese President Omar al Bashir.

“Now they have taken the country and the presidency. They are in the states as governors. They are here in the cabinet as ministers,” he said on Friday.

“They are in the secretariat of the SPLM. They are in parliament. They are in the army. They are in the security (service). They are in police. They are in all the institutions holding key positions,” Juuk added.

Contacted by Sudans Post on Sunday, Michael Makuei who is also a senior member of the SPLM faction led by President Salva Kiir said he won’t comment given sensitivity of the damning Juuk’s remarks.

“You know these are sensitive remarks which should be discussed at the party level. I am not a spokesman for the party, but for the government, if you need to ask about these remarks, contact SPLM spokesman,” he told Sudans Post from the capital Juba.