South Sudan government wants sacked Kenyan commander reinstated

Dennis Tarus

November 8, 2016 1:27 PM

The government of South Sudan has written to the United Nations asking for the dismissed Kenyan commander to be restored as head of UN operations in South Sudan.

The government of South Sudan has written to the United Nations asking for the dismissed Kenyan commander to be restored as head of UN operations in South Sudan (Unmiss).

South Sudanese information minister Michael Makuei Lueth has revealed that his government has sent a letter to the UN asking for them to rescind their decision and termed the sacking of Lt-Gen Johnson Mogoa Kimani Ondieki as unceremonious and unfortunate.

"It is important to note that General Ondieki from the Republic of Kenya took office barely three weeks before the attack at the Presidential palace," said Mr Lueth.

The minister also pleaded with the Kenyan government to reconsider its decision to withdraw troops from South Sudan.

UN report

Lt. Gen. Ondieki was fired after an investigatory report showed leadership failure in his command on the UN Mission in South Sudan.

He was last week replaced on an acting basis by Chinese Maj-Gen Chaoying Yang, the Unmiss Deputy Commander.

President Uhuru Kenyatta later slammed the UN for its decision and called for Kenya’s withdrawal from its peace keeping efforts in Sudan.

Uhuru said Kenya will not work with the UN in South Sudan because it “has now resorted to scapegoating Kenyans”.

“We know that the people of South Sudan want peace. We know that the people of this region want peace in South Sudan. But we also know that peace will not come to South Sudan by blaming a Kenyan commander for the wider failings of the Mission to South Sudan,” said President Kenyatta.

Dennis Tarus