Warrap residents rally against Kiir’s expulsion order for Nuer spiritual leader

KUAJOK – Residents of Ajak Kuach Payam of South Sudan’s Warrap State on Monday took to the streets to protest an order by President Salva Kiir Mayardit directing state authorities to expel Nuer spiritual leader Gai Machiek from there.

Kiir had last week ordered Gai’s expulsion and relocation to Unity State or any state of his choice. The president said at the time that the measure is meant to end intercommunal conflicts between Twic and Ngok Dinka of Abyei.

This is because Abyei Special Administrative Area authorities have persistently accused Machiek, who they identify as a rebel general allied with South Sudan People’s Movement/Army (SSPM/A), as one of those attacking the disputed area.

Machiek, originally from Mayom County in Unity State, had relocated to Warrap in 2021 after being accused by local authorities of collaborating with rebel General Stephen Buay Rolnyang.

This accusation arose when Gai refused to participate in government troops operations against Buay’s forces following the killing of Mayom County Commissioner Chuol Gatluak Manimeh. Chuol is the younger brother of President Kiir’s security Advisor Tut Gatluak Manimeh.

David, a youth representative, stated that Mayom authorities, in collaboration with Warrap, aimed to harm Gai.

“We went there (streets) to protest the order [by President Salva Kiir]. This decision is not independent from him, he is being pushed by Tutkew and Nguen Manytuil to deport him to Unity State where he will be killed by those people and you know why he came here in the first place,” David said.

“They (Unity State authorities) attempted to convince the local authorities in Ajak-Kuach so that the spiritual man is handed over to them but for us as local residents we don’t see something wrong in his divinity and his stay,” he added.

He suggested that the spiritual leader’s stay in Ajak Kuach should be determined by the local residents, emphasizing that Gai did not contribute to communal violence.

David urged Gai to use his spiritual powers to bring peace to the state and the region, challenging claims that Gai caused any harm.

He will be here, and it is up to us to decide who to stay in our area and who is not. As others allege, he doesn’t cause communal violence. It is a white lie,” David said. What is the best solution is to ask the man to use his powers so that peace reign in the state and the region at large.”

Another woman participant in the protest raised questions about the government’s stance, asserting that peace conferences and reconciliation should be pursued rather than excommunicating Gai.

“The host of problems that Mayom people have and what is happening in Abyei and Twic could not be heaped on this man. What we thought should have been followed as best step is to hold peace conferences so that reconciliation comes about,” she said.

Sudans Post attempted to obtain a reaction from the Warrap state government, but the minister of information and communication William Wol Mayom denied any knowledge of the protests, calling it a fabricated lie.

“There is nothing of such kind. No protests were staged in Kuajok. Find out from other sources but it is a pure fabricated lie,” he said.

Warrap residents during the protest on Monday warned both the Warrap and Mayom governments against succumbing to political and military leaders’ calls to excommunicate Gai Machiek from Ajak Kuach.

Banners carried during the protest conveyed messages opposing Gai’s mistreatment and referencing incidents like the burning of Gatluak Majok, a rebel commander who was burned alive by government forces in August 2021 in Mayom County.

Gatluak’s death sparked local and internal uproar including the calls on the government to bring the culprits to account.