Two politicians who defected from South Sudan’s ruling party have accused the president of a deliberate strategy of recruiting children in their home state of Lakes and in the Bahr al Ghazal region more broadly.
Makuer Mabor Mangar released a statement dated 21 November saying that “Salva Kiir and his men” have adopted a strategy involving “full-scale recruitment from Greater Bahr el Ghazal, of young children as young as 14 to continue to wage a senseless war.”
He noted that this deprives children of their right to education.
“President Kiir has delegitimized his mandate as an elected president,” said the politician.
Another politician from the same state, former Ambassador to the United Nations Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping said, “Over 90% of our children are condemned to illiteracy.”
“We have got to end a regime that delights in the suffering of our people. We have got to stop this system that thinks Lakes’ role in South Sudan is servitude and supply of unpaid soldiers to advance their undemocratic and corrupt rule,” he said.
The state has seen an average daily death count of 15 per day, with some days witnessing heavy clashes with up to 150 dead, he pointed out, referring to inter-communal clashes in the state.
Makuer blamed the violence on Salva Kiir, saying Lakes State is “now ruled by terror and anarchy – all engineered by President Kiir himself. There is total lawlessness.”
He said that the intellectuals, traditional chiefs, spiritual leaders and even state MPs have been fleeing the state in fear.
Referring to the military governor of the state Matur Chut Dhuol, Makuer said, “a military governor was installed to terrorize the people and to destroy the democratic way of life of the citizens of the state.”
Matur was appointed caretaker governor in January 2013. After this the state never held an election for permanent governor, as required by the constitution within 60 days of appointment of a caretaker.
Last August the caretaker governor’s brother was shot dead. In the same month his daughter was arrested on murder charges.
Lumumba, the former UN ambassador warned, “Lakes State is being reduced into a ditch of atrocities, violence and gross violations of human rights.”
He warned of more chaos: “Without purging the culture of impunity and corruption, the country will collapse… It is already teetering.”
Related:
IGAD releases report on recent ceasefire violations (9 Nov.)
Report: S. Sudan gov forces used child soldiers in Bentiu fighting (20 Aug.)
Families of S. Sudan child soldiers speak out (22 July)
Lakes governor accused of ordering compulsory army recruitment (6 June)