Gai Machiek surrounded by armed youth. (-)

The government of Warrap has said the spiritual leader Gai Machiek accused on several occasions of being involved in the escalating violence in the region, is ready to leave the state.

The statement comes on the heels of a presidential order to have the controversial spiritual leader peacefully returned to Unity State or anywhere in South Sudan other than Warrap or Abyei Administrative Area.

Mr. Machiek was allegedly displaced to Ajakuach area of Twic County in 2020 following catastrophic floods that submerged Unity State.

However, Machiek has been accused multiple times, along with Twic and armed youth from Mayom County of Unity State, of involvement in attacks on Abyei, the latest of which were on 27th and 28th of January.

The attack killed 54 people including two United Nations peacekeepers and wounded 64 others.

Warrap State Minister of Information William Wol Mayom said on Monday the security organs will soon implement the directive to relocate the spiritual leader.

“The security organs have already been directed straight away from day one, to take measures and also according to the information we heard from the county commissioner, Gai Machiek is ready to go, he’s preparing himself to go,” he said.

Mayom said the spiritual leader is preparing himself to go, but the minister did not mention the next destination of Machiek, whose ancestral land is Unity State.

According to Wol, the relocation of the spiritual leader will commence when the state governor, Kuol Muor Muor returns from a medical leave.

“The governor already directed the security organs at the county level, and the order has been sent to them and he also made a public rally in the public statement to the people of Warrap state when the letter or the presidential order was made.”