Watchdog urges new Warrap governor to respect human rights

JUBA — South Sudan’s civil society watchdog, Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), has urged the newly-appointed governor of the country’s Warrap State to respect human rights in the state.

This comes after President Salva Kiir issued a republican order this evening sacking Gen. Aleu Anyieny Alweu from the position he has held for more than a year amid allegations of human rights violation.

Kiir in a separate decree appointed Manhiem Bol Malek, a former deputy governor of the defunct Tonj state, as the new governor for the restive state.

Reacting to the changes, CEPO welcomed the appointment of the new governor and urged him to respect human rights and bring justice for victims of human rights violations in Rualbet.

“CEPO welcomes the newly-appointed governor for Warrap state. This appointment is at time where the there is  needs for serious measures for residents of the state to peacefully co-existence among themselves and to also show a concrete political commitment for addressing issues of human rights violations like the issue of Ruelbet,” Yakani said.

Edmund Yakani, CEPO’s Executive Director, urged the new governor to respect human rights as required under the country’s constitution and stressed the importance of addressing the Rualbet issue.

“The newly-appointed governor of Warrap is required by law to embrace the political culture of respect human rights and genuine enforcement of rule of law. It is essential to handle the situation of Ruelbet seriously and bring it to end,” he said.

“He has a greater opportunities to making a peaceful co-existence, respect of human rights and enforcement of rule of law possible,” Yakani stressed.

He further urged “the newly appointed governor to observe the instructions of the presidency on opening of political and civic space in accordance to the spirit of implementing the R-ARCSS.”