Ex-officials of defunct 32 states threaten to protest over unpaid benefits

JUBA – Former government officials from the defunct 32 states threaten to hold peaceful demonstrations across the country next week if the government does not respond to their demands, Radio Tamazuj reports.

The 1,815 former officials, relieved in February last year, through a claims-committee are demanding the payment of their post-service benefits ranging between $40,000 and $50,000.

Last week, members of the claims-committee were barred by security from accessing President Salva Kiir Mayardit, despite a scheduled appointment to deliver a letter of grievances.

The committee’s spokesperson and former advisor for peace and reconciliation for the defunct Southern Liech State Peter Gatkuoth Chuol told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday that they will hold peaceful demonstrations across the country if their demands are not met.

“We demand our rights, and we are at the crossroads between the Ministry of Finance and the Presidency. We have been told by the President’s press secretary that Salva Kiir sent a letter to the Ministry of Finance directing the minister to pay the dues, but that is incorrect,” Gatkuoth said. 

He added, “On Tuesday, we met with the deputy minister of finance, and he told us that there is no letter from the presidency regarding our financial dues. It is a pity that the presidency is lying to its former officials.”

Paul Deng Lueth, former Melut County Commissioner and representative of commissioners in the former 32 states, said that the economic condition of the former officials is dire as many of them are unemployed. 

“When the 32 states were dissolved by a presidential decree, former officials arrived in Juba and most of them live in rental houses. But currently, they have no source of income, and because of debts, some of them were imprisoned and four former officials have died,” he lamented.

The former government official insisted that they must be paid their dues for serving the nation. 

Several attempts to reach the office of the president for comments were unsuccessful.