The governor of South Sudan’s Western Lakes State John Deng Mamer has asserted that the security situation in all counties of the state is calm including the capital city of Rumbek.
Communal violence has mounted in Western Lakes during the past months.
In an interview with Radio Tamazuj, Governor Mamer said he managed to control incidents of communal violence and introduced security policies in the state.
He further said strenuous efforts are being made to end insecurity incidents specifically ones related to inter-communal conflicts. “Revenge killings and communal violence have stopped since I came as state governor,” he said.
The top state official noted that his government was working to put in place measures to clear a massive backlog of cases in the state prisons.
“When I came I visited the Rumbek Central Prison. I also met with the judge and I asked him to work on the cases of inmates charged with minor cases so that they can go and work on their own things outside there,” he said.
Separately, Governor Mamer accused some politicians from the state of working to divide communities and urged them to work together for the state to realize development.
“The time for conflicts is over. If you want power you can go and work with your people so that they give you power. I don’t want our people to die again,” he said.
The governor denied the allegations of arbitrary arrests of officials and politicians in the state and said he arrested several officials in accordance with the law.
“I ordered the arrest of former parliament speaker Marik Nanga Marik because his brother killed a soldier… Marik took his brother to Juba and then to Kenya after the incident, so this is the reason for the arrest of Marik,” he explained.
Mamer further said Marik is being investigated and will appear in court any time soon.
When asked about the arrest of the director general at the state ministry of finance since last month, Mamer said the official embezzled about $9,000 from the state ministry. “He [Dut Riak] has to bring back the money. He has been taken to court to face trial,” he said.
Governor Mamer acknowledged that he recently ordered the arrest of the SPLM secretary-general in the state for allegedly undermining his authority.” He [Chol Dut] was released later but I suspended him,” he said.
The state governor has warned Western Lakes politicians against inciting communities. He cautioned leaders to desist from acts that can plunge the state into chaos.
John Deng Mamer was appointed by President Salva Kiir in January.