Fact Checked: Did Minister Mayen shoot into the air to disrupt Aweil’s football match?

Author: Emmanuel Bida

Military officials have confirmed that Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management Minister Peter Mayen did not shoot into the air to disrupt women’s football match in the Aweil town of Warrap State as reported by various citizen journalists and alternative media on social media platforms.

Over the weekend, many South Sudanese netizens and activists went online to condemn the act as seen in the below picture, which stated that Minister Mayen shot into the air, demanding the immediate removal of his alleged wife Aluel Garang from the field.

The news that went viral on both local and international media claimed that Minister Mayen on Saturday, 17^th March 2021 shot into the air to disrupt an ongoing South Sudan’s Women’s League match between the Juba Super Stars and the Aweil Women team striking for the removal of his wife.

“Minister shoots to stop a football game and take his wife home,” reads one of the headlines. Another of the far-post reads, “South Sudanese Minister disrupts match to forcefully take out wife.”

“Peter Mayen opens fire at Aweil Freedom to protest wife’s participation in women’s game,” reads the headline of Sudans Post.

African Sports on Monday posted, “South Sudan’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs & Disaster Management Mr. Peter Mayen Majondit forced a women’s league to be stopped as he stormed the field with gunshots to demand the removal of his wife, Aluel Garang, known as Aluel Messi who plays for Aweil FC.”

Officials of Aweil Football Association also claim that the minister shot into the air to scare spectators around him, according to Eye Radio’s report.

What exactly happened?

According to some sources, Peter Mayen is alleged to have paid a surprising visit to her wife’s family home on Saturday only to find out their three-month-old baby (Mayen Junior) crying in absence of the mother. Inquiring the where-about of the mother, he was told Aluel was for a football match.

WATCH PETER MAYEN EXPLAINING THE INCIDENT ON EYE RADIO’S DAWN PROGRAM ON TUESDAY

He then went to the playground where he requested the Aweil coach to substitute his wife, Aluel Garang. It is alleged she was substituted. This indicates that there was no force used.

However, chaos ensued when spectators blocked his car from leaving, with gates closed, while others started hitting his car and reportedly threatened to beat him up.

As seen in these videos:

Peter Mayen Majongdit told the Juba Monitor newspaper on Sunday that he did not shoot into the air. He instead said his bodyguard opened fire to disperse surrounding crowds. According to him, he had gone to bring home his wife who has a small baby. 

South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) also says the substitution issue was amicably solved but the chaos started during the departure of the minister.

It should also be noted that the game did not stop. It was played full time.

What does the FIFA rules say about women on maternity?

211 Check talked to an official from the South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) on whether they have independent rules governing football in the country and according to them, they work with rules channeled from FIFA which say, “A female player is entitled to maternity leave, defined as a minimum period of 14 weeks…”

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