BREAKING NEWS: Gen. Buay Rolnyang To Appear Before the General Court Martial, February 4, 2019

February 4, 2019 Breaking News, Newsbeat, South Sudan

Maj. Gen. Stephen Buay Rolnyang and other senior officials from Bul-Nuer conducting meeting in Mayom, Unity State(Photo credit: supplied)

Monday Feb 4th, 2019(SSNN) — Latest reports from South Sudan army headquarters confirmed that Maj. Gen. Stephen Buay Rolnyang will appear before the General Court Martial today in the capital, Juba.

At the time of his arrest, May 31st, 2018, Maj Gen. Buay Rolnyang was charged with the following charges:

Maj. Gen. Stephen Buoy Rolnyang left Wau location of previous assignment to Mankien without permission.
Reasons that let to confrontation between forces loyal to Maj. Gen. Stephen’s and those of Puljang in Mayom.
Maj. Gen. Stephen left Wau location with heavy armaments after learning of his re-deployment to SPLA General Headquarters
Maj. Gen. Stephen Bouy returned ammunitions from the front line Raja.
Maj. Gen. Stephen took salaries that belong to Raja brigades.

Alongside Gen. Buay, the following officers were also arrested and charged, however, it is not clear if these officers will appear in court today.

Maj. Gen. Arkangelo Abang Madut ( D/Cdr 5th Infantry Division)
Capt. Simon Thay Majak Thay (Administration officer Stephen’s HQs)

For the last 8 months, the army has conducted two investigations in accordance with the SPLA, 2019 Act and the committees of the First Investigation made the following findings:

Maj. Gen. Stephen Buoy Rolnyang did not intend to defect against the Government of the Republic of South Sudan.
The issues that led to the attack and subsequent arrest and detention of Maj. Gen. Stephen Buoy Rolnyang was incited and spearheaded by politicians of his home area.
1st Lt. John Manyok Pektek (Attached officer of 4th Division) was detained without clear charges.

In their conclusion, the First Investigation Committees found Maj. Gen. Buay Rolnyang not guilty and instead revealed that Gen. Buay was set up by his enemies which include the current Governor of Northern Liech State, Dr. Joseph Nguen Manytuel, presidential Advisor on security, Hon. Tut Kew using Maj. Gen. Mathew Puljang and Maj. Gen. Thayip Gatluak.

“The committee concluded; based on the statements of the accused, co-accused and witnesses plus findings that the issue that led to Maj. Gen. Stephen Bouy being attacked, captured and detained started as a family issue which then involved some politicians who then spearheaded the agenda by concluding that Stephen was defecting to the enemy just to justify their hatred and allegations against Stephen. We therefore bow NOT be unjust in our findings but to tell the truth.” Reads the conclusion of the First Investigation report.

Although the second investigation was led by the same committees that led the first investigation, no new evidence were found but instead the committees recommended the following:

Based on the Director General for Internal Security Bureau, National Security Service report, the document forwarded by Special Operations Commander Maj. Gen Matthew Puljang and 5th Division’s Operational Officer Maj. Gen. Joshua Konyi, revealed that Maj. Gen. Stephen Buoy Rulnyang was in collaboration with rebellion under command of Gen. Malong Awan, the parties involved to give more justifications in front of court of justice.
The Commander of Special Operations to justify the circumferences and circumstances that led to confrontation between forces under command of Maj. Gen. Stephen Buoy Rolnyang and those of the Special Operations.
The investigation committee recommended that Maj. Gen. Stephen Buoy Rulnyang to appear in front of Military Court Martial (GCM).

Unlike in the First Investigation report, where the Committees “ bow NOT be unjust in our findings but to tell the truth“, the conclusion of the Second Investigation was weak and loose.

“The committee concluded that; based on the statements of the accused, co-accused and witnesses plus findings; that the circumferences and circumstances that led to confrontations between forces loyal to Maj. Gen. Stephen Buoy Rolnyang and force of Special Operations under command of Maj. Gen. Matthew Puljang in Mayom, resulted to Maj. Gen. Stephen Buoy Rolnyang being attacked, captured and detained, a death, missed in action and looting of personal properties.” Reads the Conclusion of the Second Investigation Report.

The two investigations were led by Maj. Gen. Michael Manoah Kot and assisted by Maj. Gen. Nicholas Dhyier, Maj. Gen. Justin Alfred Titayo, Brig. Gen. Chan Lual Diing, Col. Gai Gordon Gai, Major. Justice William Johnson Dut and Capt. Samuel Morris Kenyi.

The today General Court Martial will be tried by Maj. Gen. Thiik Aciek Hol, Brig. Gen. Hilary Oduho, Brig. Gen. Abubar Mohamed(judge), Brig. Gen. Riak Tiop Deng, Brig. Gen. Dhuol Gony, Brig. Gen. Nhial Arou and Brig. Gen. Angui Geng.