Western Equatoria State Governor Gen. Alfred Futuyo Karaba has demanded the immediate removal of National Parliament Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba. Governor Futuyo accuses her of involvement in serious offenses, including criminal activities, the Tambura massacre, inciting border conflicts, and the alleged killing of Chief Agbiamamu.
The allegations were detailed in a letter dated August 31, 2023, addressed to President Salva Kiir, a copy of which has been obtained by Radio Tamazuj. The letter was also sent to United Nations agencies and the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In the letter, Gen. Futuyo accuses Speaker Kumba, a prominent figure as the leader of the second-highest institution in the country, of committing various atrocities in Western Equatoria State. He traces the alleged offenses back to 2008 when Kumba served as Governor of Western Equatoria State, claiming that she initiated a tribal downsizing of civil servants, leading to long-lasting negative consequences for certain ethnic groups.
Furthermore, Governor Futuyo accuses Kumba of involvement in the killing of school-going children in 2009, alleging that she ordered the military to open fire on them when they sought promised payments for their participation in events celebrating the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
Governor Futuyo also claims that Speaker Kumba is pursuing a divisive agenda to establish a new nation exclusively for her tribe, the “Azande Nation,” encompassing parts of South Sudan, the Central African Republic (CAR), and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The letter also accuses Kumba of inciting tribal conflicts in Tambura, resulting in loss of life and the displacement of thousands. Futuyo alleges her association with a group called “Ani kpi gbe,” which translates to “We have died enough” in the Azande language.
Futuyo asserts that Kumba initiated a massacre project in Tambura in 2021, leading to casualties and displacement. He further alleges that she incited border warfare in 2023 and formed rebel groups known as the Community Patriotic Front (CPF) in South Sudan and Ani Kpi Gbe in CAR and DRC.
According to Futuyo, Kumba aims to create a nation called ‘Zandeland’ from lands inhabited by Azande people in South Sudan, DRC, and CAR, mobilizing young people from these regions.
Gen. Futuyo also claims that the recent killing of a trader and chief in Yambio was orchestrated by Speaker Kumba, citing political motivations and the chief’s refusal to support the idea of ‘Zandeland.’
Governor Futuyo calls upon President Kiir to dispatch a fact-finding committee to investigate and address the matter, recommending Kumba’s immediate removal and legal action against her. He urges the ICC to hold Kumba accountable for her alleged role in waging wars against neighboring countries.
Efforts to reach Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba for comment were unsuccessful.
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