BENTIU – The Director General of Unity State Ministry of Education has suspended headteachers from 24 schools after students and teachers allegedly joined peaceful demonstrations calling for the release of SPLM-IO officials.
In the wide-ranging orders seen by Juba Witness, DG Mayiel Gatkoi Chuol listed the teachers from various primary and secondary schools in the camp currently hosting nearly 200,000 people.
Thursday’s peaceful demonstration was in defence of Machar and his co-accused party comrades being tried by special court in Juba. The protestors holding placards marched to a UNMISS base saying the trial should cease, unless it is adjudicated by the Hybrid Court for South Sudan, which was stipulated in the 2018 peace deal to address the legacy of civil war that erupted in December 2013.
Meanwhile, the education ministry’s Director General today inked the suspension letter, of various schools Head teachers both private and public(24) in Bentiu IDP camp without indicating the reason.
The peaceful demonstration at Bentiu IDPs camp forced schools to remain closed for the whole day.
The SPLM/A-IO political detainees have been under legal proceedings since appearing in court for the first time in Juba, on September 22, accused of significant crimes including murder, treason, and crimes against humanity.
They are accused of masterminding the March 2025 clashes between the army and local youths in Nasir County, which killed hundreds of troops, including commander Gen. Majur Dak.
