2 South Sudan ministers beaten by army commander at Juba airport

JUBA – At least two ministers in South Sudan’s Unity state have been reportedly beaten by a senior South Sudan army commander while waiting for a flight at Juba international airport en route to Unity state’s capital Bentiu, several eyewitnesses and officials allied to the two ministers told Sudans Post this afternoon.

Four sources said the incident occurred when General Maluk Matai of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) slapped Unity state minister of finance, Malual Tap Dieu, before holding him on his next tie with the army commander disarming his bodyguards after threatening to spark gunfire at Juba airport.

“This week, there was encounter at Juba International Airport when General Maluk Matai attacked with his soldiers’ minister of finance of Unity State Malual Tap Dieu. He slapped him and then held him by his neck tie almost harming him and this angered Lam Tungwar, another minister in Unity state, who attempted to help,” one of the four sources said

“So when Lam attempted to come over, he punched him and then disarmed his bodyguard and then also beaten their bodyguards before expelling the bodyguards as well. So this is the whole of the problem that happened at Juba airport this week,” another source said.

Lam Tungwar is the Minister of Housing, Land and Public Utilities for the government of Unity state and is widely expected to be appointed by President Salva Kiir Mayardit as the next managing director of the Nilepet.

Asked what the cause of the alleged fist fight was, a unity state official allied to Lam said the army commander was angered by reports on social media that President Salva Kiir Mayardit is allegedly working to appoint one of the two men, Lam Tungwar, or Malual Tap, as managing director of the Nile Petroleum Corporation (Nilepet).

“This is because we have supporters across the social media and that President Salva Kiir Mayardit may end up appointing one of us. So, this is the cause of the problem and this Maluk is an indiscipline military officer who does not follow military measures and he must be brought to book,” he said.