South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The head of the South Sudan chiefs’ council, Angui Deng Macham Angui has urged all South Sudanese to unite behind President Salva Kiir Mayardit as the transitional period comes to an end.
“As South Sudan chiefs’ council, we are standing with the people of South Sudan, we are standing with the president, parliament and political leaders, we have started our work and everyone must work for unity,” said Angui on Sunday during meeting of the chiefs in Juba.
Angui Deng Macham Angui, the head of South Sudan Chiefs’ Council (2nd L)
Angui revealed that the ongoing communal conflicts in some parts of the country require intervention from chiefs.
He noted that the transitional unity government has long forgotten the vital role played by tradition chiefs during the liberation war fought decades ago.
“The chiefs are overlooked, we have right to meet president Kiir to discuss issues but we are blocked from meeting the president, chiefs are the elders and the voice of chiefs must be heard,” said Angui.
He said that the traditional chiefs are working voluntarily without payment, and yet they are supposed to be given monthly salaries and pension by the unity government.
Matur Makol, the head of chiefs’ league for Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), said the chiefs’ council elected Angui Deng Macham Angui to help reorganize them to work towards unity of the people.
“As chiefs’ council, we have chiefs from the States, we have also representative chiefs, kings from Chollo in Upper Nile and Azande in Western Equatoria State, we are making arrangement to bring unity of our people,” said Makol.
Elias Khamis Barnaba, the representative of chiefs from Central Equatoria State, said the council of chiefs is working to bring people together in order to have peace across the country.
“We are standing behind the head of the chiefs’ council, we are here as brothers, we need to work together as South Sudanese. We have one spirit for our country to move forward, and we need unity and it is time for development,” said Barnaba.
