After presidential guards clashed last Friday in Juba, First Vice President Riek Machar survived because of an intervention by President Salva Kiir according to Bol Making, the Secretary of Information for the SPLM.
“People do not know that it was the President who saved the life of the 1st Vice President Dr. Riek Machar”, Making’s note said the was entitled “informing citizens of South Sudan”. He did not elaborate on the identity of the people who wanted to kill Machar.
After fighting on Friday, it was reported that Kiir’s troops escorted Machar to his compound. A presidential source said that Kiir stopped an officer attempting to pull away Machar when gunfire erupted outside presidential palace, which could not be confirmed.
Making also supported Kiir’s the decision to reject a reinforcement of UN troops, and sought to assure the citizens of the safety in the country.
“The government of South Sudan is in control of the situation. People are under protection. The situation is normal”
He lashed out at Internet liars calling them evil wishers and agitators that are fueling hatred among communities. “They sit in the internet cafes and pour a lot of lies to confuse our people”