By William Madouk Garang
The King of Chollo Kingdom, His Majesty Reth Kwongo Dak Padiet was airlifted to Juba from Fashoda after being threatened of beheading by armed groups.
President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Friday said after they had learnt of life threat against the Chollo King, he sent a rescue mission team who successfully airlifted the King to the Capital, Juba.
“Now there is war in Upper Nile, I don’t know who is behind that war …. we found that the Chollo King was threatened – there were voices from those who are fighting asking for his head,” the President said during the opening of the 2-day SPLM National Liberation Council Meeting on Friday.
“The King was in Fashoda, we tried to remove him – so we sent a boat to bring him to Malakal and from Malakal yesterday (Thursday 1st December 2022), he was airlifted by air to Juba here. Now the King is safe” Kiir added.
President Kiir wondered why those armed groups who are terrorizing Upper Nile region turn into such inhumane killing method.
“I don’t know what they are going to do with the head of dead person” He questioned. They beheaded many people when somebody invaded Malakal – many people were found dead without heads, what do they do with those heads” he asked.
The head of the state said; “the so-called white army – who is the commander in chief of white army? If it’s Riek Machar because he was the one who named them. If he is the one commanding them – he must be realistic, people must now come down to implement the agreement so that people will no longer die” Kiir emphasized.
According to the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs’ report, continued fighting among armed groups in the area have displaced 8,000 civilians in Fashoda County.
UN agency said armed youth locally known as the White Army are behind the attacks and burning of villages including Kodok and other locations.
OCHA said since the conflict started along the River Nile in mid-August, over 18,000 civilians have sought shelter at Malakal PoC, adding that the IDPs’ situation between two communities remains tense.
It stated that the situation is overwhelming and that additional supplies and capacity would be needed to respond to the conflict-affected population.
While Kitgwang Declaration under Simon Gatwech and his former ally Johnson Olony of Agwelek are locked up in a fierce blame game over who bears the responsibility for the atrocities committed against civilians in Upper Nile State.
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