Spiritual leader appeals to Manytuil to remove militia from Mayom
Garang Mut, prominent spiritual leader and Governor Manytuil shaking hands after meeting on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 [Photo: Courtesy]
Unity State’s renowned spiritual leader, Garang Mut (Gatdeng), asked the area governor, Dr Joseph Manytuil, to push for the integration of the local militia known as “Terchuong” into the SSPDF, saying the move would stabilise Mayom County.
Mut, who met with Governor Manytuil in Koatna village on Tuesday to iron out their disputes, urged the governor to relocate the group from Mayom to allow peace in Mayom.
“My problem is with the Terchuong because Terchuong has killed 14 people in Mayom County ever since they were formed and those people were not compensated,” Mut alleged.
He further alleged: “I asked Nguen Manytuil about the issue of the Terchuong group, but he did not give me any clear answer.”
The spiritual leader further alleged that the militia group was still baying for his blood and that such was an indication that his reconciliation with the governor would not be smooth.
“Terchuong are not integrated soldiers or police. They should be integrated into the army or police in order to avoid causing more problems in Mayom. Terchuong is a militia group and should not be kept amidst people because they are looting people’s properties and taking people’s cattle by force. That is why they are hated by armed youth in the whole county,” he stressed.
He lamented there is no hope for peace in Mayom since Governor Manytuil did not say anything regarding Terchuong militias.
“There will be no peace in Mayom. Terchuong are killing people and nobody asks them why they are killing people and the people being killed are not compensated. They should be trained and integrated so that they could know their role as government forces, not militias,” he stated.
Mut revealed that he has nothing against Manytuil but wonders why the armed militias are after him.
Governor Manytuil travelled to Koatna Gatdeng village on March 26, 2024, and met with the spiritual leader, Garang Mut (Gatdeng). Manytuil’s visit to the spiritual leader was for the two to reconcile after having serious tensions.
Manytuil assured Gatdeng that he was going to deal with the threat posed by the armed group.
Terchuong is a group of armed militias said to be used to fight alongside the SSPDF against the SPLA-IO during the conflict.
