Africa-Press – South-Sudan. Youth group from Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) have called on Vice President for Economic Cluster, Dr. James Wani Igga to withdraw an alleged statement they termed as hate speech against Murle community recently.
The group said the Vice President made the statementreferring toMurle tribeas child abductorswhile addressing residents in his home village of Lobonok -in a short video footageaired on the national public broadcaster, South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC TV)on December 28, 2021.
“Since we conducted the peace conference (for greater Jonglei communities) in Juba last year, those who steal children have not come back (to Lobonok); they are actually Murle. And this is because we have appointed a new governor (Chief Administrator for GPAA) called LokoliAme, who is very seriousaboutstopping child abduction.
“So, those of you who were afraid of Murle, there has not been any Murle who came to steal children here in Lobonok, and this is a fact,” read VP Dr.Igga’salleged remarks loosely translated from Juba Arabic.
In their statement written on December 31, 2021 obtained by Juba Monitor yesterday, the area youth group of Murle Intellectual Youth Network, termed the alleged remarks of the Vice President Dr. Iggaagainst Murle community.”
“We have learned with great dismay theutterances of our country’s Vice President Dr. Igga against Murle Community. In a short video clip published on the state owned SSBC TV, His Excellency Dr. James Wani Igga, Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan is seen and heard spreading against Murle Community,” read in the statementby the group.
“On behalf of Murle Community and on our behalf, we strongly urge Dr. James Wani Igga to withdraw his statement against Murle Community and advise him to refrain from spreading hate speech against any community as long as he continues to hold high office in the country,” the statement added. The office of the vice president in question has not yet comment on the allegations.
For More News And Analysis About South-Sudan Follow Africa-Press
