Kiir forms committee to investigate Mayom extrajudicial killings

JUBA – President Salva Kiir Mayardit has formed a high-level committee to investigate the extrajudicial killing in Mayom County of South Sudan’s Unity State in which four opposition officers were extrajudicially killed to avenge death of Mayom County commissioner.

On 22 July 2022, rebel forces belonging to South Sudan People’s Movement/Army (SSPM/A) led by General Stephen Buay Rolnyang attacked Mayom town and killed Maj. Gen. Chuol Gatluak Manimeh, the Mayom commissioner who is also an elder brother to President Kiir’s security advisor Tut Gatluak.

The attack angered local authorities who intensified search and collaborated with Sudanese authorities to extradite four SSPM/A officer alleged to be behind the Mayom attack who were later killed following their arrival in Kaikang area of Mayom County.

Three of the four opposition commander were killed by firing squad, while one of whom alleged to be the person behind Mayom attack in which the commissioner died was burnt to death in apparent act of revenge.

The killing sparked outrage among the civil population and the Council of States last month sat to withdraw confidence from the governor and asked President Salva Kiir Mayardit to dismiss the governor.

But the president refused the action by the council of states saying the body acted ultra vires.

In a presidential decree read out on the state-own South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) on Thursday night, Kiir formed a committee head by Senior Legal Counsel Sarafino Simon Mizan and include Major General Henry Lam Juach, Major General Abun Stephen Thiongkol, Judge Advocate Aguer Chol Aguer and Major Sebit Mahmud.

The committee is tasked to “investigate the cause of insecurity, including reported cases of extrajudicial killings and destruction of property that occurred in Mayom County.”

Within the terms of reference, the investigation committee will interrogate and summon suspects implicated in the incidents, including those in custody. The committee is also directed to coopt any relevant members where it deems necessary.

The new investigation committee is expected to report back to Kiir within 15 working days from 8 September.