The Tonj community in Juba is witnessing political drama worthy of a soap opera, after its graduates’ union dramatically withdrew confidence in the community leadership of Mr. Andrew Kuac Mayol, accusing him of turning a neutral cultural umbrella into a political megaphone.
The rift erupted after Mr. Mayol, the Overall Chairperson of the Tonj Community, publicly condemned veteran politician Nhial Deng Nhial for “freezing his SPLM membership” and forming a new political party — the South Sudan Salvation Movement (SSSM) — which he mockingly described as “a temporary party for change.”
But the move backfired spectacularly.
In a fiery counter-statement titled “Clarification and Withdrawal of Confidence in Tonj Community Leadership,” the Tonj Graduates’ Union accused Mr. Mayol of “breach of trust, abuse of office, and political misrepresentation.”
“The Tonj community is not a political arm of any party,” the graduates wrote.
“No leader has the authority to condemn a member for exercising their constitutional right to political association.”
The group insisted that Mr. Mayol’s condemnation of Nhial was personal, unauthorized, and did not reflect the community’s collective voice.
They further demanded his immediate impeachment, urging the Tonj General Assembly to form an interim leadership to restore neutrality and unity.
“Our community must remain a platform of unity and neutrality, not a tool for political manipulation,” the graduates emphasized.
Meanwhile, supporters of Nhial Deng Nhial were quick to dismiss claims linking his newly launched South Sudan Salvation Movement (SSSM) to the Tonj community, insisting that the veteran politician’s decision was entirely personal and within his rights as a citizen.
“At no point did Gen. Nhial link this movement to the Tonj Community,” the graduates clarified.
The controversy has sparked a wave of debate in Juba’s political circles — some seeing it as a “mini-parliament crisis” within the Tonj diaspora, while others jokingly suggest the community should “open an electoral commission next.”
For now, Andrew Kuac Mayol stands firm, defending his statement and accusing critics of misinterpreting his intentions.
But with the graduates’ union calling for his head and the community sharply divided, the once-harmonious Tonj leadership now finds itself in full-blown political theatre — with the audience watching keenly for the next episode.
