The South Sudanese community of Australia has condemned all their members who are fighting in South Sudan’s civil war regardless of which side they support.
Leaders of the South Sudanese community in Australia said that anyone who travels to fight in South Sudan are dividing their people and will face individual legal conseqences.
“Choosing to fight a war for, or against, the government is not acceptable,” said Chairman of the South Sudanese Community Association Kot Monoah, speaking to Australia’s SBS news network. “They must not fight wars overseas and choosing to do so comes with accountabilities.”
Monoah said those who fight in the war are making an individual choice and do not represent the community at large.
Some 30 South Sudanese-Australians have returned to their homeland to fight in the war, SBS reported.
“We do not support their actions. We are against what they are doing. We would rather they go and contribute to the development of the country,” said Emmanuel Kondok, Chairman of the Community of South Sudanese and Other Marginalised Areas in Australia’s New South Wales region.
Kondok said that people who fight in South Sudan’s war are contributing to the “cycle of violence” in their birth country.
“When it comes to the law they will have to face it individually,” he said.
Sydney man Makuer Mabor (kneeling), one of the estimated 30 Australians fighting in South Sudan (Facebook/SBS)