Peter Mayen storms, disrupts IGAD meeting with OPP leaders, threatens to jail opponents

JUBA – South Sudan’s controversial minister of humanitarian affairs Peter Mayen Majongdit on Friday morning disrupted a meeting of the IGAD Special Envoy to South Sudan Ismail Wais with leaders of the Other Opposition Parties (OPP) who replaced him on August six after involvement in a domestic violence.

Deng Ayok Deng, the spokesman of Peter Mayen’s People’s Liberal Party, said the meeting was called for by Wais with six members of the Other Opposition Parties (OPP) to discuss the recent developments and disputes within the opposition consortium including his recent removal, but Mayen came with a group of 30 men to disrupt the meeting.

“IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan, Ismail Wais had called for a meeting to listen to the wrangle at OPP with Peter Mayen and see the way forward, but Mayen came with over 30 men he called members of OPP, and in real sense, they were just men from his village,” Ayok is quoted by the Hot in Juba as saying.

According to the senior opposition official, minister Mayen started to make chaos following his arrival and wanted to fight after his 30 aides were told by the IGAD Special Envoy to leave the meeting room as the meeting was between the opposition leaders. After the chaos, the IGAD Special Envoy felt insecure and left the meeting.

“During the altercation at IGAD, Mayen and his 30 men threatened, Dr. Abraham Bungkuac Alic, the Interim Chairman of Umbrella and Secretary-General of People Liberal Party (PLP) and other OPP members and caused a scene at IGAD office, which led to IGAD staffs to go home and not feeling safe. Peter also added that he will be sending security personnel to handle these OPP members,” Ayok said

“On a second meeting with JMEC, Mayen threatened members of OPP, saying that he is still a minister and can do anything,” he is also quoted as saying during a separate incident at the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanism.

According to Ayok, the OPP leaders have launched a lawsuit against Mayen saying: “We have already started legal processes for ‘impersonation – false claims of leadership’ against Peter Mayen and our lawyers will take up the issues from henceforth, against Peter Mayen Majongdit and any institution(s) or individuals that shall continue to conduct any PLP or Umbrella business with Peter Mayen Majongdit.”

“Our question as a party represented under Umbrella of Political Parties in the R- ARCSS is why is the President keeping Peter Mayen Majongdit in the OPP position?” Member of OPP questioned, according to the Hot in Juba report.