South Sudan’s government spokesman Michael Makuei today denounced an opposition leader who had cautioned the government not to “attack the Western world,” saying that the opposition critic is not sufficiently nationalist and therefore is “not a South Sudanese and he is not an African.”

Last week the chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement for Democratic Change (SPLM-DC) Lam Akol, who is also the chairman of an opposition alliance known as PPLF, advised the administration of President Salva Kiir not to blame Western countries for their own faults.

The government spokesman who is also the information minister on Wednesday called an urgent news conference at the ministry’s premises in Juba to respond to these charges.

“The leader of opposition South Sudan – they call him the South Sudan opposition leader – is warning us that why should we attack the Western world. He’s saying, ‘Don’t touch the Western world because they are our lords.’ Or what, why should we not touch them?” said Makuei.

“Should we not call a spade a spade if it is Western? He is warning us and saying ‘The president is threatening the world and it is not the first time for him to do so. We actually know what had happened to leaders who used to threaten the world.’ This is the man talking. Now what is he saying? He is saying don’t threaten the world because they will kill you. Or what is he saying?”

Makuei denounced Lam Akol for his weak position toward the West: “He went as far as saying, he warned the government to learn from the experience of the many past third world leaders who did not survive after they recklessly put their fist in the face of the West.”

“Is he a leader of the people of South Sudan? Does he deserve to be a leader in South Sudan? Is he a genuine South Sudanese nationalist? This type of people are not even fit to be talked to. Because he is not a South Sudanese and he is not an African, otherwise you cannot just talk like this.”

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South Sudan warring group protests "white man’s" sanctions (5 March)