Nigerian cleric warns South Sudan rebels may takeover country ‘unexpectedly’

JUBA – A controversial Nigerian cleric has issued spiritual warning on South Sudan and seven other African countries including Uganda, saying President Salva Kiir Mayardit needs to reorganize the army to protect his leadership against rebels which he said are in planning a surprise attack on the state.

The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, who is said to be currently on a prayer mountain, in a statement signed by his media aide Osho Oluwatosin, spoke on what these countries should expect and the path their leaders should toil in order to avoid a crisis, pointing out that South Sudan will experience a smooth democratic unless Kiir reorganize his army.

“South Sudan will experience a smooth transition to democracy if the president heeds to advice, observe the fast and protect the country because the rebels are planning big to attack the government force unexpectedly,” he said in the statement quoted by Nigerian news outlets.

He claimed that President Kiir’s government has done so well in the last period, but there is need for reorganization of South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) in order to be ready when the rebels, which he did not name, launch their attacks.

“They should reorganize the government force and seek for more international support,” he said.

“The head of the government has done so well but there are some people who are planning hurricane Barbarossa in the country. He should be very careful and prayerful this period,” he added.

It remains unclear in what aspect the head of the government has done well. South Sudan has recently been identified by the Transparency International as the most corrupt country on earth.

The United Nations has also warned that sub-national violence has increased leading to many deaths among the civil population, despite reduction of political violence between the South Sudan belligerents.