Mayor of Juba in South Sudan sacked for slapping female vendor

By Benjamin Takpiny

JUBA, South Sudan (AA) - South Sudanese activists on Monday welcomed the sacking of Juba's acting mayor for slapping a female vendor last week.

TerManyang Gatwech, a rights activist and head of the Juba Base Center for Peace and Advocacy, told Anadolu they appreciated Emmanuel Adil Anthony, governor of Central Equatorial State, for listening to public outcry and removing Emmanuel Khamis from the city council.

“This should be a lesson to the rest of the public figures in the country. A responsible man will never do what the former acting mayor did," he said.

Gatwech called on parliament members to represent the interest of citizens without fear or favor, and reminded public figures to be mindful while dealing with problems or concerns.

Over the weekend, Anthony revoked the deployment of the Lainya county commissioner as the caretaker mayor of Juba City Council. Khamis was appointed in June.

In a video that went viral on social media, the former mayor, armed with a pistol, was seen striking a female street vendor selling mosquito nets.

Khamis, along with police, were clearing the area where vendors set up shop at a well-known roundabout in the capital.

The footage led to an uproar in parliament, among women activists, as well as civil society organizations, with calls for his immediate removal.

The National Legislative Assembly had also passed a resolution recommending his dismissal.