Juba | March 30, 2026
A funeral service in Juba for the late Bishop Emeritus Rev. Nathaniel Garang Anyieth has triggered widespread public debate following controversial remarks by senior presidential advisor Kuol Manyang Juk.
The event, attended by religious leaders, citizens, and senior officials—including Paul Nang Majok—was intended to honor the bishop’s legacy. However, attention shifted after Kuol Manyang made unexpected comments about food choices and cultural attitudes.
In his remarks, he stated: “We discriminate some foods, frog is bad, lizard is bad, and dog is bad. But these are all foods. We don’t want to use our minds, it’s laziness.”
The statement quickly spread online, drawing mixed reactions. Some viewed it as a call to rethink cultural perceptions and adapt to difficult conditions, while others criticized it as insensitive and out of touch with the realities of widespread hardship and food insecurity in the country.
Many South Sudanese argued that the remarks overlooked the daily struggles people face, where access to food is a matter of survival rather than preference. The comments have since become a major topic of discussion across social media.
The controversy comes just weeks after another widely debated statement by the secretary general of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, who downplayed the importance of modern medical facilities and instead encouraged a return to traditional remedies. That earlier statement also sparked significant online backlash, with critics warning it undermined the need for improved healthcare services in the country.
Together, the two incidents have intensified public scrutiny of remarks made by senior officials, with many calling for more careful and responsive communication from leaders, especially at a time when citizens are grappling with economic challenges and limited access to essential services.
