Yei women demand withdrawal of Mathiang Anyoor militia

Women and youth groups in Yei River State have called on President Kiir to withdraw all Mathiang Anyoor soldiers from the state if the national dialogue is to yield its intended results.

Women and youth groups in Yei River State have called on President Kiir to withdraw all Mathiang Anyoor soldiers from the state if the national dialogue is to yield its intended results.

This comes during consultative meeting help by South Sudan President’s adviser on special affairs Clement Wani Konga in Yei on Thursday.

The women and youth accused government soldiers of killing hundreds of civilians, raping young and old women, looting property and displacing thousands of civilians.

They also blamed the SPLA command and the state government for reintegrating the Mathiang Anyoor soldiers into the state national security forces.

 “We have talked over and over demanding that the Mathiang Anyoor soldiers should be returned to where they came from. They are now dressed in national security uniforms, we know them and they are still moving in our midst. We don’t want them, not that you change their uniforms and send them back to Yei. The mindset of these soldiers is bad and they have to be taken out of Yei area,” said one of the women who preferred anonymity for security reasons.

The women asked President Kiir to withdraw what they called “unlawful soldiers” and replace them with trained national soldiers who will protect and restore hope for the civil population in the state.