Gal Lel Ngundeng Met President Salva Kiir in Washington DC, US

Press Release
8/10/14
Washington, DC

Hundreds of South Sudanese Americans and South Sudanese Canadian traveled to Washington, the District of Columbia on Sunday August 6, 2014 to receive President General Salva Kiir Mayardit on first visit to the United States of America after December 15, 2013 incident. Among South Sudanese Canadians who traveled for 56 hours or 2 days and eight hours from city of Vancouver of Canadian province of British Columbia to the United States of America capital Washington, DC was Gai Lel Ngundeng, the grandson of late Prophet Ngundeng Bong.

Gai Lel Ngundeng, the grandson of late prophet Ngundeng was among three speakers who were chosen by South Sudan Embassy chargés d’affaires to the United States of America to speak before President Salva Kiir Mayardit. Gai Ngundeng who appeared to be in his 30s appreciated the opportunity given to him to speak on behalf of late prophet Ngundeng Bong family, and on behalf of Greater Upper Nile Community in North America. Gai made it clear to the President Salva Kiir Mayardit that Ngundeng family support him as our elected president. He also appealed to the President to do whatever possible to bring peace in our country, and never listen to those who misinterpreted his late grandfather Ngundeng Bong prophecies as a way to get to power. Gai assured President Kiir that his grandfather prophet Ngundeng Bong never talked about Riek Machar but he did talk about someone named ‘Kiir Nyal Diing’ who would lead our people, and that is you president Kiir, said Gai Ngundeng. Dominic Wani from Central Equatoria state who was also chosen to speak on behalf of Greater Equatoria Community in the United States of America, and Natalina Nyanut Bona Malual who was also chosen to speak on behalf of South Sudan Community in Washington, D.C Metropolitan area both all appealed to the president to bring peace to our country.

On his one hour thirty-five minutes address to South Sudanese natives in North America, President Salva Kiir Mayardit appreciated those who took time off from their work and traveled for days to come and listen directly from him what happened on December 15, 2013 in South Sudan than watching reports from Television and social media such as facebook. President Kiir stated that this crisis started as a disagreement within SPLM on party’s basic documents and later transformed into a coup attempt by Dr. Riek Machar. President Kiir also touched bases on the ongoing peace process in Addis Ababa and his position on IGAD’s proposal to bring peace and end war in the country. President Kiir made it clear that he is ready for transitional government as proposed by IGAD with exception of two red lines that he drew. The president further stated that he will accept transitional government if he remains in his position as elected president, national parliament remain as elected parliament, and state parliaments to remain as they were elected as well.
In conclusion, President Salva Kiir Mayardit concluded his address with the case of federalism. He stated that the idea of federalism was proposed to be included in the ongoing peace process in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa by three governors of Greater Equatoria states. These three governors met and submitted their proposal to Addis Ababa when he was out of the country for a conference in West Africa. President Kiir made it clear to South Sudanese natives in North America that the idea of Greater Equatoria governors is a great idea but they failed to involve other seven governors. They also failed to propose their idea to both state and national parliaments where it would be discussed to ensure that is what a type of government people of South Sudan want. Finally, president Salva appealed to South Sudanese natives in North America to spread his message of peace to those who were not able to make it to the rally and meeting.
Regards,
Philip G Aguot

MBA,
Deputy Secretary of Info, Communication and Culture
SPLM-USA National Secretariat

Arabic Forum