Western Equatoria ‘coup’ has failed, Governor Futuyo says

JUBA – The governor of Western Equatoria State Gen. Alfred Futuyo Karaba has announced that what he calls a coup has failed, and called on his deputy to return to his work to avoid to avoid crisis which he said may impede government functioning and the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.

Last Friday, a group of politicians head by the deputy governor of Western Equatoria Kennedy Ganiko who is also the chairperson of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Government (SPLM-IG) in the state announced their withdrawal from the state transitional government.

The senior government officials accused Governor Futuyo who is the chairperson of the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) of being incompetent and of suspending weekly cabinet meetings.

Speaking to hundreds of supporters at Freedom Square in Yambio town on Saturday morning, Governor Futuyo said the ‘coup’ has failed and called on other parties in the state transitional government to come together and work for the betterment of the state.

“The coup has failed, my brothers specially Kennedy [Ganiko] come back so that we can work together to achieve the peace our people are looking for. We have a peace agreement and our working relationship is governed by the same peace agreement,” Futuyo said.

The governor warned against those boycotting their duties, saying any government official who is appointed to a role is needed to do his duties in serving the people and that his government will not tolerate anyone who does not do his work while he is being paid from public money.

“We all have a mandate to do at our various capacities and if anyone who is a government official, is appointed to head a certain ministry or an independent commission, that person is expected to do his work, other wise we will not continue this way and is unacceptable,” he added.