SOUTH SUDAN: Nuer Leaders Call For Minister Lomuro’s Resignation Over Controversial Remarks

By Deborah Akur Chol, South Sudan

Leaders of the Nuer community in Juba, are demanding the resignation or dismissal of Cabinet Affairs Minister Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro, citing “incitement” and “genocidal profiling” following his recent comments categorizing certain Nuer-majority regions as “hostile” to the government.

The controversy erupted after Dr. Lomuro, during a speech on Saturday, classified several counties according to their perceived allegiance to the Kiir administration. He designated Nasir, Ulang, Akobo, Nyirol, Uror, Fangak, Ayod, Rubkona, and Panyijiar as “hostile” while labeling Maiwut, Longechuk, Guit, Leer, Mayendit, Koch, and Mayom as “friendly.”

Hailing from Central Equatoria state, Dr. Lomuro expressed concerns that Nuer communities in the “hostile” areas were affiliated with the opposition SPLM-IO, led by the detained First Vice President Riek Machar, and were actively resisting state authority. “This community [Nuer] is divided into four sub-sections and has deliberately refused to recognize the government, boldly attacking and killing government forces,” he stated.

His remarks drew immediate backlash, with critics arguing that the minister, a close ally of President Salva Kiir, was inflaming ethnic tensions in a nation still grappling with the scars of civil war.

In response to the uproar, the government attempted to clarify the situation. Youth and Sports Minister Dr. Joseph Geng Akech reassured the public that Dr. Lomuro’s comments were not meant to encompass the entire Nuer community.

However, the Nuer Leadership Peace Forum (NLPF), led by Labour Minister Gen. James Hoth Mai dismissed this clarification as insufficient, labeling the minister’s statements as a “dangerous escalation” that threatens ongoing peace efforts.

During a press conference on Tuesday, the NLPF accused Dr. Lomuro of deliberately singling out Nuer-majority regions while neglecting the violence in other areas, including his native state. “The statement seems designed to incite the Nuer against the government and our Dinka compatriots, overlooking our essential role in South Sudan’s liberation,” the group asserted.

The forum issued a stark warning that such rhetoric could deepen ethnic divisions and demanded that President Kiir remove Dr. Lomuro from his post “to give peace a chance.” They invoked the protections against discrimination outlined in the UN Charter, advocating for unity amid persistent insecurity in South Sudan, which includes ongoing cattle raids in Jonglei and violent clashes in Equatoria.

As of now, the president’s office has not responded to the Nuer leaders’ demands, and Minister Lomuro has yet to address the growing criticism. Speculation persists that while the minister publicly delivered the controversial comments, they may have been drafted by other influential political figures who directed him to present them.

Since gaining independence in 2011, South Sudan has remained politically fragile after years of conflict. A power-sharing agreement between President Kiir and the detained First Vice President Machar, a prominent figure within the Nuer community, continues to face challenges in achieving sustainable stability.

Analysts caution that such incendiary rhetoric not only risks further destabilizing the nation but could also jeopardize planned elections scheduled for December 2026.