JUBA – South Sudan government has threatened that it may be forced to shut down social media giants, Facebook and Twitter, over its use by the young people who criticize their leaders over their failure to unite after three years of implementing the revitalized peace agreement.
President Salva Kiir Mayardit and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny in September 2018 signed a revitalized version of a 2015 peace agreement to hopefully stop violence and bring lasting peace in the world’s youngest country which has seen more than half a million killed since 2018.
The two men have however failed to implement the peace deal and citizens as well as international community, have, as result, called on the two men to organize elections and leave power, something the two men says is illegal given their efforts in implementing the peace agreement.
Speaking last week in Juba, information and government spokesman Michael Makuei Lueth urged the public not to criticize the country’s leaders on social media and threatened that President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s government may be forced to close down social media platforms to curtail criticisms.
“Use social media to promote peace and harmony and not to spread hate. Otherwise, if the government feels it can’t control it, we will be forced to shut down, so use social media to promote peace,” Makuei said.
There is no way to run away from criticism in the Public services. If a leader doesn’t want to be criticized by the citizens then, you must quit the office and give chance to someone who is not fear on Public eyes. South Sudanese people need a leader who will try to reunite them, they want a leader who is smart enough, they need jobs, they wanted development and all others things that will make them felt this is why we fought for 21st years.
Eventually, there is a lack of leadership as we have seen citizens are killing themselves in the communities while, the leaders have no plans on how to stop killing. All leaders are in Juba and civilians are suffering in the country. I think they have reasonable to criticize the Top two leaders in the country. Jieng Elders of council and national dialogue delegates have said everything. The both sides said President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his Deputy president Dr. Riek Machar Teny have steps down if they want to see South Sudan nation going forward and also they says, if they loved country. It appears that, both leaders were not willing to steps down and if they don’t perhaps, there will be consequences.