Thiik Thiik threatens another closure for UAP over fired staff

JUBA – The Deputy Mayor of Juba for social services, Thiik Thiik Mayardit, has again threatened to shut down UAP Insurance within two weeks if the company fails to address the issue of ten dismissed national staff.

Mayardit accused UAP of refusing to cooperate with a committee formed by Governor Emmanuel Adil to mediate the dispute.

“Just give me two weeks (and if nothing is done, I will close down the UAP insurance company).” he told journalists during a press conference conducted at his office in Juba on Monday.

He further criticized Labor Minister James Hoth Mai and Undersecretary Mary Hillary, accusing them of failing South Sudanese citizens.

He urged President Salva Kiir to remove them from their positions and called on citizens to hold them accountable.

Mayardit also alleged that Mayor Floria Modi was bribed to reopen UAP after he initially closed it in December 2023. He challenged Modi to deny the accusation in court.

“The company is open, what will you get from the bribing? Of which I call it that way, they got bribed and if they want we can go to court with them,” he stated.

“What about the millions of the people of South Sudan which does not have anything to put on the table?”

Mayardit also targeted State Commissioner for Regulatory Authority, Latio Ramba, claiming he received bribes from UAP in Nairobi. He threatened to expose further evidence if the situation persists.

He accused Ramba, who also acts as the SPLM party spokesperson in the state, of prioritizing the interests of South Africans and Kenyans over those of South Sudanese citizens.

He urged the South African and Kenyan embassies to intervene “so that this thing can be solved amicably rather than depriving the people of South Sudan their rights.”

The dispute stems from December 2023 when Mayardit closed UAP for refusing to reinstate the 10 fired employees.

His action sparked controversy and was eventually overruled by Mayor Modi and the national Labor ministry.

However, Mayardit remains adamant, urging UAP to address the employee issue and warning of further action if they fail to do so.