Kuol:“Enemies of peace” trying to separate me from Kiir
The Senior Presidential Advisor, Gen Kuol Manyang Juuk, has said that his political adversaries and ‘‘enemies of peace’’ are maligning him to create a rift between him and President Salva Kiir Mayardit.
In an exclusive interview with the City Review yesterday, Gen. Kuol noted that he had no intention to resign from the government because the government and the nation still wanted him to serve.
He refuted speculations that he had tendered his resignation to the president, calling it a lie spread by ‘‘enemies of peace’’.
“The information which is circulated on social media alleging that I have resigned is not true. I just want to tell you officially, that I have not resigned, I am in my office,” Gen Kuol stated.
He reiterated rumour mongers were disseminating false information so that the public might believe and weaken the government, adding that he was not hurt since they did not injure his reputation by insulting his personality.
“These are just creations by people who want to create chaos in the country. These are people who wish that I resign and when I leave the government, then that will weaken the government. Or to create a rift between me and the president, they say lies, and when it is repeated, people might come to believe it,” he explained.
Will continue to serve
The senior presidential advisor pledged his support to the government, maintaining that he had no intention to resign since his request for the resignation was turned down by President Salva Kiir Mayardit in 2015.
“I will continue working, supporting the government in various ways. But officially I am just telling you that I have not resigned and I will not resign, there is nothing that will make me resign,” he maintained.
Gen Kuol stressed that he had no bad intentions against the government even if the president decides to relieve him in the future, he would not rebel like other leaders who took arms against the government to protect their interests.
“I do not see a reason of resigning, but of course, the government is not mine, people are appointed to positions, and they can also leave positions if the president decides,” he said.
“I am a citizen of the country and I can still survive and live a normal life just like other people who are not in the government.”
Not presidential candidate
Since 2015 when he tendered his resignation to the president, there had been speculations about Gen Kuol’s resignation either through the local media outlets or social media.
Last year, Gen Kuol stated that he had no intention of being the SPLM flag-bearer in the 2023 general elections. He noted that if he wanted to be the presidential candidate, he would go through majority votes.
“How can we split the SPLM now and even in the future? Why split it? “If the president thinks that he is losing power, and I wanted that position, then we call people for the meeting, and (make) a decision as a convention,” he said, in a video shared by South Sudan Digital on the YouTube platform.
“And if he sees that the majority are for me, he could also step down and say okay thank you because he respects the majority. That will be up to him. Will he say no, if Kuol has come to take this, then I am dividing the SPLM, I don’t think he will do that. He will be happy to go home, leaving the SPLM intact.”
The government official told the people to disregard any information purporting that he was running against the president.
“So, for me, I never discussed it with anybody. Nobody came to me or approached me on that. And I am saying nothing but the truth. So, that is my advice,’’ he concluded.
