Authorities in Warrap State in South Sudan said on Wednesday they deployed security and police forces as members of parliament began deliberations on a motion seeking to extend the term of Governor Nyandeng Malek by means of a constitutional amendment.
Residents and witnesses said police and security forces were deployed around the state legislative assembly where a group of youth numbering about 200 turned up to protest the extension of the term of the governor.
A witness said the group carried posters saying ‘no’ to extension of the governor’s term, ‘yes’ for extension of the assembly and president’s terms.
Andrew Kuac, acting head of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) said the party leadership in the state had not been consulted about the proposed amendments to the constitution.
“People were surprised by the move to amend their constitution without being enlightened. They know they elected the governor and they were waiting to see whether they were going to vote for her if she wants to be given another mandate but they were surprised by a request to amend the constitution. They said no and they went out to reject that decision,” he said.
“So today, the youth and the people went to the parliament to tell them not to amend the constitution to extend the term of the governor,” said Kuac.
However, state information minister Paul Dhel Gum downplayed reports that the request was protested, claiming only “some elements opposed to the governor and her administration tried to confuse the situation” but the law and order was maintained by security forces.
Dhel asserted that the request by the state government to amend the constitution was in line with the decision of the national government to amend the transitional constitution to extend the term of the president and the mandate of the legislative assembly for three more years.
“There was no problem. What happened today was that some elements wanted to cause confusion but the security did their job. They provided security and maintained law and order and the day went peacefully well,” he said.
Mary Adut, a resident of Kuacjok town, said she saw heavy presence of police and security forces standing around a group people holding some posters around the parliament at around 10:00 am yesterday.
“I wanted to go to the market but my husband called and told me to remain in the house. He told me some people were protesting the extension of the term of the governor. So I remained at home until around 3:30 pm,” she said.
Adut said her husband and three brothers in law were with the group of protesters.
“My house is not far from the assembly… I saw police forces deployed around the assembly. I also saw some people standing with posters with big writings. One of the posters carried ‘No extension for the term of governor, yes for the assembly and the office of the president,’” she explained.