Kiir to visit Warrap despite rebel threats ArticleComments (6). Email PrintSave --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 30, 2011 (JUBA)- Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of the newly established Republic of South Sudan is scheduled to pay a three day official visit to his home state of Warrap despite a rebel group threatening to attack the area. Salva Kiir, is seen smiling on 3 August 2005 - (Getty)On Saturday South Sudan’s army (SPLA) said 75 people - 60 rebels and 15 civilians - are believed to have died when the South Sudan Liberation Army (SSLA) a rebel group attacked Mayom town in Unity state. The SSLA claimed it had taken the town from the South Sudanese army, killing 700 SPLA soldiers and was going to move on to attack the state capital Bentui as well as neighbouring Warrap state. Staff working for the United Nations, NGOs have been advised to leave the Unity and Warrap states by the SSLA. The also told residents to leave towns and move to villages ’in order to be safe’. The rebels so that branch of their group led by Major General Bepean Machar was on the way to Warrap State claiming it intends to liberate the area from poverty, corruption and human rights abuses. The SSLA claim that the government rejected an attempt by the US state department to mediate a peace deal with them in September. But the spokesman of South Sudan’s army, Phillip Aguer Panyang, on Sunday denied reports alleging that rebels were advancing towards either Bentiu, the capital of Unity state or Kuacjok, the capital of Warrap state. Aguer said the national army remains in full control and that the general security situation in the region the president is scheduled to visit on Monday is “stable”. “They are not in Mayom and are not advancing towards any place. They have been expelled and some of some have already been captured”, Aguer said in a statement on the South Sudan Television on Saturday. PREPARATIONS FOR KIIR’S VISIT Ariec Mayar Ariec, a member of Warrap State Legislative Assembly on Sunday said preparations to receive President Kiir and his delegation are complete. “The president’s advance team is already here. They have been here working with the state government since they came on Friday”, he said explaining that President Kiir will first start his visit in Western Bahr el Ghazal state. “The president will be here for three days visiting Warrap, Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Western Bahr el Ghazal. He will hold a public rally tomorrow here in Kuacjok”, he said. This is Kiir’s first official visit within South Sudan since the country became independent in July, as part of a 2005 peace deal with north Sudan. Kiir is expected to hold a public rally in Kuacjok town, the capital of the state before traveling to his home of Akon where he expects to meet various groups including local politicians from the area. It is unclear whether the president will take the opportunity to address the political power struggle between Warrap’s governor and the state’s legislative assembly. MPs have been attempting to depose governor Nyandeng Malek Deliech, accusing her of neglecting the hunger crisis in the state and targeting critical politicians. The governor denies the charges. (ST) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/SouthSudanKob?hl=en.
