S. Sudanese rebels accuse Ethiopian governor of receiving bribe from Juba

May 7, 2015 (GAMBELLA, ETHIOPIA) – Members of the South Sudan’s rebels led by former vice-president, Riek Machar, on Thursday accused the governor of Ethiopia’s Gambella region,  Gatluak Tut Kot, of allegedly receiving bribe from the government in Juba to allow SPLA  forces to launch attacks from parts of the region. The source which Sudan Tribune was not able to immediately verify claimed that governor  Kot had been given 3.5 million South Sudanese pound ($1 million) as bribe in order to allow  Western Gambella region to be used by president Salva Kiir’s government as a launching pad against the rebel positions. A government’s delegation comprising of senior officials including Upper Nile state’s governor,  Simon Kun Puoc, reportedly visited Gambella town for a meeting with the governor. Attempts today by Sudan Tribune to contact the Gambella governor were unsuccessful. Nuer community all over the world in US, Australia Canada, UK, South Sudan as well as  Ethiopia are said to have condemned the move made by Gambella president for his  decisions to make the alleged agreement. The source added that the local populations in Gambella and South Sudan refugees at camps in Gambella, are staging protest against the governor’s move. “The rally is underway to take place any time where they would be marching from Newland to Baro Hotel in Gambella where the South Sudan guests are being accommodated,” he said. South Sudan government has sent delegation from Juba to Gambella Ethiopia on Wednesday to  attend the joint Ethio-South Sudan border meeting. The meeting aims to strengthen border trade and security arrangement for smooth relationships  of the communities along the border with same communal interests ahead of Ethiopian’s general  election due to be held later this month. Besides that, the source added that South Sudan defence minister Kuol Manyang Juk and Simon Kun  Puoch the governor of Upper Nile are going to hold separate meeting with the Gambella regional governor to finalise the deals. Read More at Sudan Tribune