By Bosco Bush
President Salva Kiir Mayardit has urged the public to remain calm and dismissed recent rumors circulating of a planned insurgency in the country.
In a public address, labelled the rumour as “untrue,” stating, that the army is intact and discharging their patriotic duties smoothly.
Kiir urged the public to remain calm and disregard the false information.
“Fellow citizens, I am here to address the panic and fear that happened on Tuesday, 26th November 2024. The misinformation circulating of tension in the army headquarters is untrue. Our army is intact and together with other security agencies are discharging their patriotic duty effectively,” said President Kiir.
He described the people peddling misinformation and rumours as conflict profiteers who are unhappy with the country’s peaceful atmosphere, especially after the signing and implementation of the 2018 peace pact.
“The beneficiaries of war and instability are behind these rumours. They have no benefit in peace. They are disappointed that our country has been peaceful since we signed the revitalized agreement in 2018. They spread unfounded rumours to instill fear and a sense of uncertainty in citizens’ minds,” he said.
The president assured that the country is secure and safe, stressing that the country will not return to war, but will rather embrace dialogue to resolve their political differences.
Kiir appealed to the citizens to go about their businesses normally, to collectively build the nation.
He advised the people to learn to defy such rumours, and never take them seriously, because they are lies.
On Tuesday, panic gripped Juba city with rumours purporting chaos at the army headquarters, Bilpam, caused by an alleged suspension of the Military Intelligence [MI] Chief, Gen. Stephen Marshall.
The rumor which spread through social media suggested that tensions were escalating at Bilpam and the nearby residential areas after Gen. Marshall allegedly defied an order for his suspension over an assassination attempt against former spy chief, Gen. Akol Koor Kuc.