Ugly Rumours

It was as hot as if there were three suns: one in the East, one in the West and one right in the middle. With the fan doing little to relieve me from the heat, my phone rang. I let it ring for a while, enjoying my nice ringtone ‘Garang Houdi na Komia’ [Garang Give Us Liberty]. The song always reminds reminds me of the days we raced from the roar of Russian Antonov aircraft and when my nursery school was turned to ashes in 1991.

I picked up my phone to hear a strange voice inviting me to the president’s office for an urgent press briefing. I’m used to Madut, my friend in the President’s office, being the one to call me, so I left for the briefing feeling suspicious.

Scribes from every media tribe were gathered. There was barely any vetting of journalists as they arrived. Only one female journalist was refused entry, the soldiers deeming her dress inappropriate.

An hour passed. The office’s staff stood around, arms folded across their chests as if it were cold, others with their hands in their pockets. We saw nothing of the man I had spoken to on the phone and nothing of the president himself, who normally greets us so politely.

I couldn’t work out why we had been called – maybe for a statement on the relationship between the president and his deputy commander in chief, Gen. Paulino Matip Nhial, who had accused the president of conspiring against him?

After we were moved from the President’s office to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Minister, H. E. Paul Mayom Akec, greeted us.

“I call you here today concerning the rumours that have spread this afternoon, that the President of the Governmnet of South Sudan (GOSS), H.E. Lt Gen Salva Kiir, has been killed by a guard in Kampala. I want to tell our people that the president is alive and is doing his patriotic national duty in Kampala.”

The Minister blamed the rumours on plotting government officials and assured the press that the perpetrators would be brought to justice. The press gathered themselves to tell the story to the people of Juba, to prevent the rumour from bringing the people onto the streets. Thank God, the President was alive!

From the Minister’s comments, there is no doubt that the rumours sprang from the ranks of the governing elite. The elites have caused more harm to the poor than the good they claim. In corruption, they are number 1! Where are the poor Southerners dragged before courts for embezzling or making money disappear when it’s meant to sponsor students? They rob the poor then send their children to expensive schools, so they too can rule the poor one day, too. They drive expensive cars, the cost of a year’s fuel for which would build ten state hospitals or schools.

I hope these rumours are investigated properly by H.E the Minister Mayom Akec and that those responsible are brought to account for sparking the ugly rumours. Those who love the sound of the AK-47 rather than Lasu Emma or John Kudus songs must be taught that the people dearly need peace, not war.