South Sudanese opposition party People’s Liberal Party (PLP) has Thursday said the Jieng (Dinka) Council of Elders is damaging the image of the Dinka people, involving itself in politics for its own interests rather than that of the tribe.

PLP leader Peter Mayen Majongdit, who himself is a Dinka, said in a statement emailed to reporters that the majority of the Dinka are against the actions of the Jieng Council of Elders.

The tribal lobby group, which serves as an informal advisory group to President Salva Kiir, comprises Dinka politicians and relatives of the president – not traditional leaders.

Majongdit slammed the so-called Elders saying, “This tribal body has grown big to the level that they can make decisions on behalf of the head of state. Where in this world do we have tribal elders influencing political, economic decision of a nation? It is only in South Sudan that a tribal institution has overthrown the ruling party and is influencing the government policies.”

He encouraged his fellow Dinka tribesmen not bo be manipulated. “You should not be manipulated again; no single tribe can build a nation,” he said

The party chairperson added that the Jieng Council of Eders is a body without any constitution guiding its work and without clear objectives and aims. He said that community institutions must stay out of politics and focus on development.

“Politics is for political parties, not for communities and tribal institutions,” Mayen said.

“Jieng Council of Elders is working not working for Jieng People’s interest but for its own interest. The Council is demolishing the image of Dinkas but local and international and majority of the Jieng community are against the Council. Jieng people are for peace and it is a good community that is just being betrayed and manipulated by self-declared and unelected council of unconstitutional body,” he said.

Mayen called on the public to embrace peace and work to protect the peace agreement, the signing of which last year the Dinka Council of Elders opposed. He encouraged South Sudanese to protect the peace deal against “enemies of peace heroes of destruction.”

Photo: Peter Mayen Majongdit

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