After more than a decade of absence, Gen. Taban’s return seems conveniently timed and disturbingly aligned with efforts to rally support for individuals and groups responsible for violence and atrocities against civilians, particularly targeting the Nuer community. This is not reconciliation — it is a rebranding of betrayal.
Despite serving as First Vice President in 2016 and again as Vice President since 2018, Taban Deng has largely been silent and absent when the people of Unity State, especially Nuer civilians, needed him most. His sudden reappearance, under the guise of national unity, raises more questions than it answers.
On Saturday, Gen. Taban told a rally that the 2018 peace agreement remains intact despite the house arrest of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, claiming that it is “a legal issue.” But this assertion is dishonest and misleading.
Let’s be clear: Dr. Machar’s house arrest is politically motivated, not legally warranted. It is part of a calculated power struggle within the SPLM, aimed at sidelining one of the most significant leaders of the Nuer people. Painting Dr. Machar as a legal problem is an outright falsehood meant to appease political interests in Juba, not to inform or unite the people.
The “Friendly and Unfriendly Counties” Narrative is Dangerous
Taban’s trip also echoes the troubling language recently used by senior government officials, including Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro, who categorized Mayom County as “friendly” — only for it to be bombed shortly afterward, killing innocent civilians. This clear contradiction exposes the dangerous hypocrisy and divisive labeling being used to justify violence.
These classifications serve no purpose other than to divide and isolate the Nuer people, and should be resisted by all South Sudanese who care about unity and peace.
Reject the Politics of Division
The people of Unity State must not be misled by Taban Deng Gai’s renewed attempts to position himself as the Nuer political kingpin in Juba. His campaign is not about peace, and it’s certainly not about justice or dignity. It’s about self-preservation and political positioning — a move to undermine Dr. Riek Machar and replace him with someone more amenable to the current power structure.
The arrest of Dr. Machar, the true First Vice President and peace partner, is unjustifiable. It is a deliberate strategy to weaken the opposition, prolong instability, and silence a voice that continues to advocate for equity, peace, and inclusion.
As a Nuer, and as a South Sudanese, I call on our people — particularly those in Unity State — to see through this campaign of deception. Stand firm in rejecting tribal politics, and recognize this visit for what it is: a shallow attempt to manipulate public opinion and distract from the very real injustices we face.
Commendation and a Call to Action
I applaud the Paramount Chief of Rubkona County for his courageous stand — reminding Taban Deng and President Salva Kiir that the presidency belongs to all tribes of South Sudan, not to one ethnic group. This kind of bold truth-telling is what the country needs now more than ever.
To my fellow Nuer brothers and sisters: remain vigilant. This is not the time to forget the past 12 years of suffering. Do not allow yourselves to be used or divided. The so-called “peace campaign” is nothing more than a cover for political gamesmanship that places our lives at risk.
We demand the immediate release of Dr. Riek Machar and a return to genuine dialogue and peacebuilding. South Sudan is bleeding, not because of Dr. Machar — but because of continued political manipulation, tribal favoritism, and leadership that prioritizes power over people.
Let us work together, not as rival ethnic groups, but as South Sudanese citizens, demanding peace, justice, and a future free from war.
