South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has summoned General Chol Thon to report to office as soon as possible to provide briefing on what happened in Malakal where more than 18 civilians have been killed and several other wounded in armed clashes.
Chol Thon is the head of the ‘Eastern Nile’ administration, one of three proposed successor states of Upper Nile State. Kiir is seeking to divide the country’s 10 states into 28 smaller states.
A source in the Office of the President said Saturday, “The president of the republic has asked Comrade General Chol Thon, governor of Eastern Nile state to come to Juba as soon as possible to provide briefing about general security and political situation in the state.”
“He (Chol Thon) is preparing to come. He has spoken to the president already to confirm his readiness to come,” the source disclosed. “He would have come today but you know that there are no flights today as it is Saturday which is not permitted for aircrafts to land and take off due to the ongoing construction at the Juba airport.”
According to the source, President Kiir wants to know what exactly happened in the area that led to the killing of more than 18 civilians in the protection of civilians camp under the control of the United Nations mission in the country and how it occurred at the watch of UN.
“The president has heard lots of narratives about the incident and because of this he decided to ask the governor to come so that he hears directly from him because he is the authority in the area.”
Presidential spokesperson, Ateny Wek Ateny, confirmed the president has asked the governor to come to Juba for briefing on what transpired in the area. Ateny said the government and the president also demanded explanation from the United Nations mission in the country because UN is fully responsible for provision of protection and security within the area under its jurisdiction, including where protection of civilians camp had been established.
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Aid workers struggle in Malakal chaos; number of wounded tops 90 (19 Feb.)
Mass killing at UN protection site in S Sudan (18 Feb.)