Legislators demand suspension of local leaders over violence in Unity State

By Ruot George

Lawmakers from Unity State are demanding the governor suspends three commissioners over violence in the last two weeks.

Attacks by armed youths on villages in Leer and Mayendit which began on February 15 has left at least 20 people dead and displaced over 2300 households.

The youths also overran a cantonment site for opposition forces in the wake of the violence.

At least one aid worker has been reported dead in the violence and warehouses storing relief supplies looted.

Lawmakers met governor Joseph Nguen Monytuil this week to demand answers to the violence.

“Please suspend the commissioner of Leer, Mayendit and Koch for the insecurity in Southern Unity,” the chairperson of the standing committee for Federal Affairs of the Transitional Legislative Assembly, Malek Cook Dwach told Monytuil in Juba.

The lawmakers accused the leaders of the three counties for inciting the violence.

Dwach questioned why the State leadership have not taken any action towards stopping the violence.

“MPs representing Leer county have approached the governor to explained the motive of his silence over fighting in Southern unity,” he told Juba Echo.

Relative calm has yet returned to Leer and Mayendit after the meeting but the situation still remains tense, Dwach said.