UK’s Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly. Photo: AP
Juba, December 9, 2022 (SSNA) — The government of the United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on two county commissioners in South Sudan’s Unity State, the South Sudan News Agency (SSNA) has learned.
The commissioners targetted by the UK are Koch County commissioner Gordon Koang Biel and Gatluak Nyang Hoth, who is the County Commissioner for Mayendit (Mayiandit).
The two commissioners have been accused of directing and overseeing rapes, beheadings, and other crimes in their counties.
Early this year, leaders of Mayendit and Koch counties were accused of orchestrating a fight against Leer county.
Violence also engulfed Unity State in July after Mayom County authority killed three rebel generals by firing squad and burned another alive. The county officials said they carried out the punishment, alleging that rebels ambushed and killed the county commissioner Chuol Gatluak Manime. The late commissioner is a sibling of Tut Kew Gatluak who serves as President Kiir’s national security advisor.