04/11/2025
Benydit ku ye Köör (literally Jieng’s words for “the Chief and the Lion at the same time”)
By: Ateny Wek Ateny
Juba, November 4th, 2025
I am relaying a Jieng/Dinka folktale that was once relaid by H.E President Salva Kiir Mayardit some other time during the Interim period 2005- 2011. I don’t know exactly the date and the year. However, the story is now available online as the President relaid it then.
The story had it that, there was a lion that turned into human during the day, and become lion at night. One day, the lion was appointed to be the Chief to lead the cattle camp. The Chief turn lion at night to eat members of his leadership. He ate girls, boys and the fully grown adults. During the day, he sat under the tree to receive complaints from families of their missing loved ones at night. He always assured people of justice for the victims. The incident of people missing at night persisted unabated.
One night, the child of a tender age, spotted a newly married young lady being dragged into the thatch hut in which Chief lives. He wasn’t very sure of what he saw, so he asked his elder brother to be pretend to be beating him, so that he enters the Chief’s hut for help. Indeed, the boy entered the hut and he identified all the missing persons through their skulls. So, worried of being exposed, the Chief asked the boy “what did you see”. The child said, I saw nothing Chief. The Chief offers a bribery in form of a cow and heifer and the child refused. Eventually, all people were informed that, it is the Chief was ate those missing youths. People turned out in great number, set the hut ablaze and killed the lion.
Moral of story
President Kiir ended the story by calling for people to identify amongst the leaders those who are humans during the day and turn lions at night and punish them.
In my view, the people of South Sudan have already identified many of these types wholppp ate public money as if there is no tomorrow. They don’t see themselves as mere thieves, but as heroes/heroines who have absolute right to use public resources at will. The salaries are nowhere to be seen because of this behaviors, but they are living royal life. So, as concluded by the President, are these rules still applicable now, or they were just for 2005-2011 use?
Otherwise, I urge H.E President Kiir to continue to decree out such people. The Monday’s Presidential Decrees that reinstated Hon. Tut Gatluak Maname as Presidential Adviser on Security Affairs, appointed Hon. Africano Mande as Minister of Presidential Affairs , and the reappointment of Gen. James Deng Wal Achien as Executive Director in the Office of the President were the best decrees since the coming of the eclipse.
I am also delighted for the reassignment of Lt. Gen. Phillip Nyon back to the Tiger Division ( Presidential Guard). Manipulative politics must not be extend to include the control of Presidential Bodyguards. I am glad the President has restored his prerogative on the army since he reappointed Gen. Dr. Paul Nyang Majok.
H.E the President should be careful. Commanding the army of a nation is not shared between two or three. Even in the most well established democracies, the Vice Presidents do not get promoted into Military ranks, because they are politicians. Finally, I can’t imagine Office of the President without Rita Kiden Lotou, but the future of that office without her seems to be very bright. Congratulations Amb. Rita and please go in peace.
The views expressed in this article are the author own views, albeit I heard the story from the President’s video clip online. He could be reached by email : [email protected]
Disclaimer: The Views expressed here are solely that of the writer
