David Yau Yau, in a reaction to his recent removal from significant political positions, acknowledged his dismissal as “normal.” However, he underscored, “I was not consulted.”
Yau Yau was removed from his roles in the Revitalized Transitional National Legislative Assembly (RTNLA) and the National Liberation Council (NLC), the highest decision-making body of the ruling SPLM party. He stated, “It is normal. It is a government policy of working. I don’t have any problems. I didn’t consult anyone, and I was not consulted.”
In an interview with Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday, Yau Yau noted that he hadn’t been consulted before his removal but acknowledged that such decrees were standard changes. He highlighted President Salva Kiir’s prerogative to make such decisions, stating, “It is normal. It is a government policy of working. I don’t have any problems. I didn’t consult anyone, and I was not consulted.”
Addressing the ongoing tensions resulting from the conflict in Pochalla County, Radio Tamazuj inquired about the assurances Yau Yau could provide to his followers from the region. Yau Yau responded, “It is a normal thing for the government. Like me, a number of decrees have been issued appointing or relieving me from various positions. I don’t have any problem; it is a normal government procedure. We don’t have any problem.”
David Yau Yau clarified that his removal was unrelated to the unrest in Pochalla and was merely a coincidence.
Yau Yau, a former rebel leader in the Pibor area who signed a peace deal with the government, joined the ruling party SPLM in the capital, Juba, in January 2016. He began his rebellion against Juba in 2010 after failing to win a seat in parliament in the Sudanese general elections.
His military wing, the Cobra Faction, was integrated into the South Sudan army, in accordance with the May 2014 peace agreement. The deal curved GPAA out of Jonglei State and made it a largely autonomous administrative unit.
Yau Yau held various government positions after abandoning the rebellion, including becoming the chief administrator of the Greater Pibor Area and deputy minister of defense.