The fate of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Peter Mayen Majongdit is hanging by thread after the government official violently disrupted a women’s football tournament in Aweil.
Mayen stormed the playground with bodyguards in protest against his wife, Aluel Garang’s participation in the ongoing tournament.
Sources said Mayen ordered football officials to bring the game to halt so that Aluel can go home to attend to a three-month-old baby.
Concerned with the safety of Aluel, Mayen was and his bodyguards were surrounded by fans asking the minister to leave the field, which prompted the bodyguards to pull trigger and fire live bullets into the air to disperse the crowd.
The action has triggered public condemnation and renewed calls for the controversial minister to tender his resignation.
Wani Michael, the Managing Director at Okay Africa Foundation took to his microblogging site Twitter saying Mayen was not immune to a presidential order to relieve him off his duties.
“In 2013, Hon. Abdallah Deng Nhial, Former Minister of Environment was FIRED by President Kiir for slapping a Member of Parliament, few days after assuming his office. What makes it difficult for Hon. Peter Mayen Wen Majongdit to be fired?” he questioned.
Recently, some members within Other Opposition Party (OPP) called on the presidency to consider replacing Mayen. OPP is one of the signatories to the Revitalize Peace Agreement which was signed in September 2018.
Albino Akol Atak, a concerned member said the leader has tarnished the image of the party calling on President Kiir to sack him from the position.
“The leaders of OPP are really condemning this act. We consider that act as personal act, not the OPP’s,” he said.
Mr. Atak stated that the aim of the party’s leaders is to deliver services to the public but not to harm them. He described the move taken by Mayen as an unacceptable act which should not be condoned. Mr. Atak said the party has written a letter to the presidency urging them to replace the Minister.
“This is not the first incident he committed. The OPP leadership have set up their opinion and wrote a letter to the leadership of RTGONU and they informed the presidency that they have an intention to replace him,” he said.
When asked to comment on the issue, Mr. Mayen denied the act saying he did not trigger any gun shot at the field.
“I don’t have any gun; I am a national Minister; I am being guarded. Wherever I go I have my bodyguards. It is a lie, I have not fired any gun,” Mr. Mayen said.
The football match which ended in a barren draw was between Aweil Women Football Club and Juba Super Stars FC which was the second round of the South Sudan Women’s National League.
Additional reporting by Joseph Loful