Juba, 21 March 2023; In a video clip released on social media on Tuesday, the Secretary General of Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) Mr. Peter Lam Both who hails from the Dinka ethnic group of President Salva Kiir said, Riek Machar has declared war against Dinka, and all the Nuer living in Juba internal Displaced camps will leave the camps and join Riek Machar if he decides to leave Juba today. 

It was not immediately clear why such a high-profile party leader has made such a remark at a time the environment is very fragile after President Kiir fired the defense minister early this month. 

The hate speech that can ignite a fire or open up the unhealed wound got a rebuke from the deputy chairman of Sudan People's Liberation Army in opposition/SPLA-IO who doubled as deputy speaker of the Revitalized National Legislative assembly, Hon Nathaniel Oyet Perino. 

" Condemnation of Hate Speeches and tribal Incitement by the SPLM Secretary General, Peter Lam Both 

I am deeply concerned and disappointed by the growing level of hate speeches and tribal incitement by some senior members of the SPLM Party, the latest being genocidal utterances by the Secretary General of SPLM, Peter Lam Both. 

It is our belief that such utterances are never slips of the tongue but calculated statements and official policies of a group Peter Lam Both represents. Such statements in the near past and now were used by political and military elements affiliated with SPLM to divide and incite violence against certain groups and communities in South Sudan. 

The persistent and rampant inter-communal violence in the country has been a political tool and policy objective of elements such as Peter Lam Both and the group to target, kill, maim, deprive, and displace a community under target since 2012. As a result, over 500,000 lives were lost and over 3 million were displaced in and outside South Sudan. 

We note with grave concern and hold perpetrators of such statements responsible for violence against communities and tearing down the unity of South Sudan and frustrating efforts to reconcile our citizens. 

I am equally calling upon the parties to the Agreement, other stakeholders, and guarantors to take note of such violations of the Peace Agreement particularly the Permanent Ceasefire and Cessation of Hostilities, and hold Peter Lam Both to account." 

Oyet Nathaniel Pierino 

Deputy Chairman 

SPLM/SPLA (IO)