Nuer community leaders in Juba have called for the dismissal or resignation of Cabinet Affairs Minister Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro, accusing him of “incitement” and “genocidal profiling” after he described some Nuer-majority areas as “hostile” to the government.
The controversy stems from remarks made by Dr. Lomuro on Saturday, in which he classified several counties as either “friendly” or “hostile” based on their perceived loyalty to the Kiir administration.
He listed Nasir, Ulang, Akobo, Nyirol, Uror, Fangak, Ayod, Rubkona, and Panyijiar as “hostile,” while Maiwut, Longechuk, Guit, Leer, Mayendit, Koch, and Mayom were labelled “friendly.”
Dr. Lomuro, who hails from Central Equatoria state, also alleged that Nuer communities in the “hostile” counties had ties to the opposition SPLM-IO, led by detained First Vice President Riek Machar, and were refusing to recognise state authority.
“This community [Nuer] is divided into four sub-sections and has deliberately refused to recognise the government. That is why they can boldly attack and kill government forces,” he said.
The comments sparked widespread condemnation, with critics accusing the cabinet minister, a close ally of President Kiir, of exacerbating ethnic tensions in a country still recovering from civil war.
On Monday, the government sought to downplay the remarks, with Youth and Sports Minister Dr. Joseph Geng Akech stating that Dr. Lomuro’s comments were not directed at the entire Nuer ethnic group.
However, the Nuer Leadership Peace Forum (NLPF), led by Labour Minister Gen. James Hoth Mai, rejected this explanation, describing the minister’s words as a “dangerous escalation” that could undermine peace efforts in the country.
In a statement to the media on Tuesday, the NLPF accused Dr. Lomuro of selectively targeting Nuer-majority areas while ignoring violence in other regions, including his own home state.
“The statement is intended to incite the Nuer against the government and our fellow Dinka, erasing our historical contributions to South Sudan’s liberation,” the group said.
The forum warned that such rhetoric risked inflaming ethnic divisions and demanded that President Salva Kiir dismiss Dr. Lomuro “to give peace a chance.”
They also referenced the UN Charter’s protections against discrimination, urging unity amid ongoing insecurity across South Sudan, including cattle raids in Jonglei and clashes in Equatoria.
The president’s office has not yet commented on the demands. Minister Lomuro has yet to respond to the backlash.
Although the document was delivered by Minister Lomuro, many speculate that he was not its true author. Instead, it is widely believed that other influential political figures drafted the statement and tasked Lomuro with reading it publicly.
South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011, remains fragile after years of conflict. A power-sharing deal between President Kiir and detained First Vice President Machar, a prominent Nuer political leader, has struggled to bring lasting stability.
Analysts warn that inflammatory rhetoric could further destabilise the country and jeopardise planned elections in December 2026.
