A group of residents from Ezo County in Western Equatoria State, South Sudan, staged a peaceful demonstration on Monday, calling for the state’s leadership to be returned to the SPLM Party under President Salva Kiir, rather than remaining under the control of the SPLM-IO, led by First Vice President Riek Machar.
The protest follows heightened tensions in the state after President Kiir’s unilateral removal of SPLM-IO-appointed Governor General Alfred Futuyo on 10 February. The position has remained vacant since, with the state currently being administered by an acting governor, Daniel Badagbu, a member of the ruling SPLM.
Under the terms of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement, Western Equatoria State was allocated to the SPLM-IO, granting the party the right to appoint the state governor. However, the removal of General Futuyo has sparked divisions and unrest, with some communities supporting the decision and others condemning it.
The demonstrators marched to the Ezo County headquarters, chanting slogans such as, “We are tired of SPLM-IO; we want the state reinstated under SPLM leadership.” They later presented a petition to the County Commissioner, Abel Sudan, outlining their demands.
At a public rally in Ezo, some community members, who spoke to Radio Tamazuj anonymously due to security concerns, expressed their desire for Western Equatoria to transition to SPLM leadership.
“Your Excellency, President Salva Kiir, with great honor and respect, we extend our gratitude for your bold leadership in issuing the presidential decree that removed Governor Alfred Futuyo. We believe this decision paves the way for stability and progress,” one demonstrator stated.
Women participating in the rally also voiced their frustration over the security situation under General Futuyo’s administration.
“Since his appointment, we have witnessed countless cases of violence, killings, and sexual assaults. Unknown gunmen have terrorized our communities. We have lost our husbands, our children, and our peace. We have never seen a governor like this before,” one woman said.
Commissioner calls for unity
Ezo County Commissioner Abel Sudan assured the demonstrators that their petition would be forwarded to President Kiir. He urged the community to remain peaceful and avoid further divisions.
“I encourage all protesters to express their concerns respectfully. We are all one people in South Sudan. SPLM, SPLM-IO, and all peace partners are brothers who signed the peace agreement together. We must work for unity and stability,” Commissioner Sudan stated.
He emphasized the importance of peace and development in the state, noting that Ezo County is currently hosting internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Tambura County due to recent conflicts.
“We need peace in South Sudan. We need our children to go to school and engage in farming. People have the right to peacefully demand change, and their voices must be heard. However, we must not allow divisions to take root in our society,” he added.
SPLM-IO officials in the state could not immediately be reached for comment.
The organizers of the peaceful demonstration in Ezo County have yet to be identified.
