FULL-TEXT | Statement by Longechuk Commissioner on fighting with Gen. James Khor Chuol’s forces

JUBA — The commissioner of Upper Nile State’s Longechuk County has issued a statement refuting claims that he led SPLA-IO forces to attack former opposition commander General Khor Chuol who joined the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces last month.

Below is the full text statement.

 

Republic of South Sudan

Upper Nile State – Malakal

Longechuk County

Commissioner’s Office

Date: September 6^th, 2021

REF: PRESS RELEASE

This Press Release serves to rightly inform the public on what has transpired the armed clash that pitted the forces of the defected Maj. Gen. Tut Yak Rom against the forces of the SPLA-IO Division Five and Mangok communities today, at 4:00AM, in Mangok Payam of Longechuk County.

When Maj. Gen. Tut Yak Rom declared his defection to SSPDF on August 3 1st, 2021, he was asked to vacate Belwang Payam with immediate effect by the community of Belwang Payam; he left the area and rather went to Mangok Payam.  He was told to vacate the area on several occasions by the communities of Mangok Payam in order to avoid confrontations with the forces of SPLA-IO deployed at Mangok Payam; however, he refused to leave the area and instead forcefully occupied the area.

He furthermore forcefully recruited youth to his forces with intention to force the forces of SPLA-IO Division Five out of Mangok Payam. In his pursuit for hold on Mangok Payam, he started the fight this morning. The details of the incident shall be availed to the public as they unfold. Hence, I wish to call upon the public to disregard and dismiss the unfounded fake news on social media.

The fake news on social media is meant to misinform and misinform the public by the spoilers of peace. I would like to seize this opportune time to also call upon the public to disregard and shun the Press Statement dated 4/9/2021 signed by Lt. Col. Gatwech Gony Geng that claimed that Maj. Gen. James Khor Chuol has appointed Hon.

Wiyual Kun Gatluak as the Caretaker Commissioner of Longechuk County to be based in Malual-Gahoth. This is blatant violation of the provisions of R-ARCSS,2018 as well as Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011 (as amended) and the SPLA Act, 2009 because he has no appointing powers; the appointing powers are bestowed upon the President of the Republic of South Sudan, Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit.

Furthermore, having declared his defection from SPLA-IO to SSPDF, Maj. Gen. James Khor Chuol Giet becomes one of the senior officers in the ranks and file of the SSPDF under Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit as the C-in-C.

Longechuk County is one of counties in the Republic of South Sudan allocated to SPLM-IO in the powering sharing arrangements in accordance with R-ARCSS, 2018.

Finally, I wish to appeal to peace monitoring mechanisms to urgently send teams to Longechuk County to investigate and verify the violations of the R-ARCSS, 2018 by the defected military officers.

Hon. Dak Tut Dey

Commissioner-Longechuk County,

Upper Nile state

Mathiang

Contacts: +211 (0)917052477

+211 (0)917953525

WhatsApp: +251 98 997 2484

Cc: R-JMEC;

Cc: CTSAMM;

Cc: JDB;

Cc: JMCC;

Cc: All Media House.