Kalisto: ‘No rubber bullets’ remarks do not reflect government or SPLM policy
Author: Koang Pal Chang | Published: 1 hour ago
FILE: Kalisto Ladu, former mayor of Juba speaking to Eye Radio at his resident in Juba – Photo Credit: Lou Nelson/Eye Radio
Former Juba Mayor Kalisto Ladu has dismissed past remarks by senior government officials warning protesters that authorities lack rubber bullets and tear gas, saying such statements are personal opinions and do not reflect official government or SPLM policy.
Speaking at the Jubek Day event, Ladu said no South Sudanese citizen should be threatened or harmed with weapons purchased using public resources. He urged leaders to exercise restraint in their public statements and avoid rhetoric that could damage relations between citizens and the government.
“There are no South Sudanese citizens who should be shot with bullets bought using the resources of South Sudan,” Ladu said.
The former mayor maintained that comments about the absence of rubber bullets and tear gas do not reflect the position of either the government or the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).
“The claim that we do not have rubber bullets and tear gas is not true. The person who made that statement was expressing a personal opinion, which does not reflect government policy or the policy of the SPLM,” he stated.
Ladu also emphasized that leaders derive their authority from the people and should therefore engage citizens with respect rather than intimidation.
“There is no leadership without the people of South Sudan. Therefore, I urge the minister and others in positions of authority to be careful with their words,” he said.
He argued that threatening citizens contradicts the responsibility of public officials to serve the people.
“A leader should not threaten the people he represents. It is contradictory to claim that you are serving the people while at the same time saying that there are no rubber bullets or tear gas for dealing with civilians. You can’t threaten your boss; South Sudanese citizens are your bosses,” Ladu added.
Ladu’s remarks revive a controversy that surfaced in 2021, when senior government officials, including Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth and presidential adviser Kuol Manyang Juuk, cautioned citizens against participating in demonstrations.
At the time, Kuol described the planned protests as unwise and urged South Sudanese not to join them.
At the time, Kuol described the proposed protest as unwise and urged citizens not to participate.
“I think it is not wise, and I am calling on our population not to heed the appeal of this coalition,” Kuol said.
He also echoed an earlier warning by Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth, who stated that the government did not possess rubber bullets or tear gas for crowd control.
“It’s a warning to the demonstrators that the government has no rubber bullets, and that is a reality. They don’t have it. The government will not stand with hands folded, and things are going wrong,” Kuol said in 2021.
The remarks sparked concerns among civil society groups and rights advocates, who argued that authorities should respect citizens’ constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and expression.
Ladu’s latest comments appear to challenge that position, insisting that leaders should promote trust, unity, and respect in their engagement with citizens rather than resorting to threats of force.