02/10/2025
Bor Town, Jonglei State
Date: 02 October 2025
To:
His Excellency General Salva Kiir Mayardit
President of the Republic of South Sudan.
Office of the President, Juba
Subject: Clarification and Position of the Red Belt Movement.
Your Excellency,
On behalf of the leadership and the people of Bor, we respectfully submit this statement to clarify our true position regarding recent propaganda and defamation targeting our community protection force — the Red Belt Movement.
The Red Belt Movement is not a rebel group but rather a community protection and defense force established in Jonglei State. Our sole mission is to safeguard the lives and property of our people against persistent violence and instability, particularly from Murle criminals who have terrorized our communities for decades.
Our Agenda & Commitment:
- Protect civilians from attacks, raids, and child abductions.
- Defend our community from Murle criminals and other armed groups targeting citizens and thegovernment.
- Support peace, unity, and development under the leadership of Your Excellency PresidentSalva Kiir Mayardit.
- Work towards a peaceful and stable Bor community, free from fear and insecurity.
We want to make it clear that Red Belt is not against the government. The incident on Saturday was a misunderstanding that was twisted and used for political defamation.
Clarification on Propaganda:
The National Security Service was misled by Murle political leaders and Nuer politicians, which resulted in an attack on a local tea place wrongly suspected to be a Red Belt base. A soldier from Division 8 was mistakenly killed in this incident.
We reaffirm that:
- Red Belt has not declared war against the government or the citizens of Bor.
- The defamation campaign is a political strategy to weaken Red Belt, allowing Murle youth to continue cattle raiding and child abduction freely.
- Red Belt is not like the Cobra of Murle, which committed atrocities against commandos and civilians in the past. Remember, in your home area there have been armed groups who have killed many national army soldiers and were not labeled as rebels. We urge your government to stop this double standard and never push Buor into the wall.
Rebellion is not in our blood, nor can a wise and educated community such as ours embrace it.We shall be the last people to rebel in this country, if ever there was a need.
Political Manipulation Against Red Belt:
Earlier this month, Hon. Riek G*i allegedly met with Nuer rebel leader Mr. Makuach Tut, during which he vowed to dismantle Red Belt. His goal is to open a corridor for rebel movements towards Juba by weakening and discrediting our defense force.
Red Belt, by securing strategic areas of Jonglei State, poses a serious barrier to rebel infiltration and lawlessness. The ongoing propaganda is a deliberate campaign to delegitimize our role in protecting our people.
Our Call to Action:
1. Investigate this matter urgently and impartially.
2. Recognize Red Belt as a community defense movement working alongside the government,not against it.
3. Protect Bor communities from political exploitation by Murle and Nuer leaders with hiddenagendas.
We also call upon our people to remain vigilant, united, and aware of the real motives behind this defamation campaign.
Conclusion:
Red Belt is here to stay. We will continue defending our people, their property, and the dignity of Bor communities. Our loyalty to your government remains unshaken, and our mission of protection, peace, and defense will continue until stability is fully restored in Jonglei State.
Signed:
Leek Mamer Leek
On behalf of the Leadership of Red Belt, Bor
CC: SSPDF Headquarters
CC: National Security Service
CC: South Sudan Police Service
CC: Other Security Organs
CC: Jonglei State Government
CC: File
CC: Media
