The Council of States has withdrawn its confidence in the leadership of Unity State Governor, Joseph Monytuil.
The legislators said Monytuil is not fit to govern – describing him as someone with poor leadership qualities.
96 out of 100 members of the Council of States passed a resolution casting a no-confidence vote in the Governor in Juba on Monday.
The House had summoned Governor Monytuil to provide updates on security issues in Unity state.
The legislators were particularly interested in getting answers on the recent public and arbitrary execution of four young men believed to be allied to the SSPM/SSPA under renegade General Stephen Buay. 3 were killed in a firing squad while another young man was burnt alive in a grass-thatched house.
The victims are accused of being behind last month’s killing of Mayom County Commissioner James Chuol Gatluak Manime. Late Chuol is the elder brother of National Security Advisor to the President, Tut Gatluak.
It is alleged that Governor Monytuil ordered the execution on August 6, 2022.
“He was summoned to explain the insecurity in Unity state especially in Mayom…but his explanations did not convince the August House,” said Josephine Nakuru, spokesperson of the Council of States.
In a statement on his unverified Facebook page, Governor Monytuil told the legislators that the insecurity in the state is caused by power wrangles between the SPLM and other political parties. The statement on the ‘Office of the Governor – Unity State Press Unit’ did not elaborate on the said wrangles.
Monytuil also denied tarnishing the image of the country through the public execution of the 4 suspects. He instead urged the MPs to “have a clear understanding and fact-finding on the ground instead of listening to the rumors on social media.”
“We expected the Governor to even apologize to the August House for what has been happening in his State, but his interaction with the August House demonstrated poor leadership. He should have spoken responsibly like a Governor,” Hon. Nakuru said.
After listening to the Governor’s statement, the Council of States opted to issue a vote of no confidence. The resolution is an indication that they no longer support Monytuil’s leadership strategies.
“Almost the whole House voted against him. The speaker just said ‘those who think this governor is no longer going to serve, can you show up your hands’ and the whole House unanimously stood up and raise their hands. Only 4 were left and we are 100 members,” Nakuru disclosed.
The constitution does not explicitly explain whether the Council of States can trigger the dismissal of a Governor.
It, however, says the Council of States can request statements from Governors and national Ministers concerned regarding effective implementation of the decentralized system and devolution of powers and any other issues related to the states.
The House can also legislate for the promotion of a culture of peace, reconciliation and communal harmony among all the people of the states.
The current State Governors and Heads of the Administrative Areas – with the exception of Governor Louis Lobong of Eastern Equatoria – are appointees of President Salva Kiir.
According to Hon. Nakuru, the Council of States will submit its resolution to the President for consideration.
“The report of the vote of no confidence is given to the Security Committee to scrutinize it, then we will give our credible facts and recommendations to the President to look into it and decide what he can do to the State,” she stated.
“We recommend the governor to rest and give peace a chance in Unity state.”
The Council of States believes once Monytuil is relieved of his duties, they can then investigate him for potential crimes committed in Unity state.
“We want to investigate him but currently we cannot investigate somebody who is still the chairperson of the security in the state,” Nakuru stated.
Early this month, the military headquarters, Bilpam condemned the extrajudicial killing and promised to punish those behind the execution of the 4 people in Kaikang area – north of Mayom County’s headquarters.
The four suspects were not tried before a court of law. Their execution happened less than 24hours after their reported arrested by Sudan Rapid Support Forces (SRF) and handed over to the governor of Unity state.
