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Sudan Tribune

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Juba church leaders downplay attack on Rebecca Garang

December 1, 2015 (JUBA) – The church in which Rebecca Garang, the wife of South Sudan’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) party founder was reportedly assaulted on Sunday has outrightly downplayed the bizarre incident.

Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior, the widow of the late John Garang, founding leader of the country’s ruling party (SPLM)
Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior, the widow of the late John Garang, founding leader of the country’s ruling party (SPLM)
“Sunday prayers is a common routine for devoted Christians to pray, Mama Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior and Dr. Majak D’Agot decided to come to Emmanuel Parish as they did before they went to exile,” Jacob Biar Deng, the spokesperson of Emmanuel parish said on Tuesday.

The church statement was also signed by the in-charge pastor, Joseph Maker Achiek. Both Nyandeng and D’Agot, they said, were before the congregation to be prayed for.

“For sure the lady came to me and said that Mama Rebecca should not be prayed unless she brings her son [Mabior Garang]. She was convinced and taken away by ushers and the prayer continued as normal,” said Maker.

However, members of congregation who attended the Sunday church service said an unidentified woman approached and pointed at Nyandeng on the face after the pastor refused to hand over to her the microphone.

The woman, an eyewitness said, spoke on top of her voice, but did not touch the former first lady. This narration was too supported by pastors from Emmanuel parish.

“To my surprise, I started receiving uncommon calls from strangers and colleagues trying to confirm what had happened,” said Pastor Maker.

He accused churchgoers of spreading “propaganda through social media during the prayer”, referring to the incident, which went viral since Sunday.

“I am urging Christians, enemies of peace and social media ushers to stop inciting people using the propaganda. Instead they should use them [social media] for spreading peace,” stressed Maker in his four-page statement.

Some members of the congregation reportedly left church service in protest as Nyandeng and D’Agot were reportedly escorted out by security agents for fear of attacks.

Nyandeng and other members of the former political detainees returned to Juba on Friday after spending nearly two years in exile in Nairobi, Kenya.

The incident, analysts say, was a sign of how polarised the South Sudanese society is and depicts challenges to be addressed by the Government of National Unity (GoNU).

(ST)

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