A young Sudanese-Australian man has lashed out at machete-wielding thugs in his community in a powerful video rant that has since gone viral.

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A young Sudanese-Australian man has lashed out at machete-wielding thugs in his community in a video rant that has since gone viral.

It is a blunt message delivered from one of their own — “If you’re killing people, you can’t be here.”

Sudanese-Australian man Ajak Monychol struck a chord when he spoke bluntly in a now-viral video on social media about members of his community who are “killing people” in and around Melbourne.

He says those who engage in violence in Australia need to be “kicked out of the country” and that every Sudanese-Australian person suffers because of the actions of a few violent thugs.

“To be straightforward, the people doing these things, they have to go,” he said.

“If you’re killing people, you can’t be here. That’s not racist. Like literally, kick them out the country.”

Ajak, who resides in Adelaide, created the video — viewed more than 800,000 times — in the wake of the brutal stabbing deaths of Chol Achiek, 12, and Dau Akueng, 15.

The pair were slashed to death with machetes while walking home from basketball in the suburb of Cobblebank, in Melbourne’s west, in September.

Eight people have been charged with murder over the killings as calls for change ring out across the state and from both sides of parliament.

Ajak Monychol, a Sudanese Australian man, has spoken out about violent teenage criminals who “should be kicked out of the country”.
Ajak Monychol, a Sudanese Australian man, has spoken out about violent teenage criminals who “should be kicked out of the country”.
Speaking about Melbourne’s raging crime wave, Ajak had a powerful message for his community.

“We’re killing each other. We’re killing other people. We’re bringing harm to other people. These neighbourhoods that people live in, Cobblebank or Melton, it looks great. Those are beautiful suburbs.

“From what I’m seeing, it’s f**ked. There’s no resolution. The only resolution is … the people causing the problems, they’ve gotta go. It’s straightforward. It gives us a bad look. It gives other people a bad look.”

He said the part that bothers him most is the “victim mindset” — blaming police before those responsible.

“Once somebody calls out the killers (on social media), people start talking about ‘Oh, they came from war-torn countries, this is the upbringing they had’. I am sick of excuses. If you’re doing that sh**, you’re a bad person.

“I’m not racist, but I feel for people when they like look at (Sudanese) a certain way because of this stuff.”

Machetes, like the one wielded by a young man at Northland last year, have become the weapon of choice for groups of violent teenage offenders in Melbourne.
Machetes, like the one wielded by a young man at Northland last year, have become the weapon of choice for groups of violent teenage offenders in Melbourne.
Speaking to news.com.au, Ajak had a simple reason for voicing his concerns.

“It’s obvious that youth crime, especially in Melbourne, is at an all time high.”

He is right. News.com.au reported in December that teens accused of machete crime sprees are not only committing violent acts at record pace but they are repeatedly being bailed despite the nature of their offending.

News.com.au also reported in December that teens are being hired as part of an “Airtasker-style” arrangement to carry out violent acts on behalf of bigger criminal networks.

Comments on Ajak’s video poured in. Among the 2500-odd responses were many from members of the Sudanese-Australian community equally disgusted by what is going on.

“The image of South Sudanese people in Aus has been so damaged and torn to the point where it feels unfixable,” one person wrote.

CCTV shows the moment a young Sudanese boy was ambushed in Cobblebank.
CCTV shows the moment a young Sudanese boy was ambushed in Cobblebank.
“People are forgetting why our parents fled here, bringing our corrupt government’s attributes and behaviours into what was supposed to be a safe place. We need to not forget why we’re here.”

Another lamented the killing of members of their own community.

“It’s literally us against us,” they wrote.

“Every Sudanese person I have ever dealt with has been kind and just tried to do their best, like the rest of us. The people that are doing this stuff need to be punished harshly.

“It’s not fair in on rest of the Sudanese people that are genuinely trying to just live their lives.”

South Sudanese community leaders reacted with shock in September to the alleged murders of Chol and Dau.

At a vigil in the days following their deaths, Chol’s father spoke out against the use of weapons in Melbourne and the escalating violence.

Cobblebank machete victims Dau Akueng and Chol Achiek.
Cobblebank machete victims Dau Akueng and Chol Achiek.
“We don’t want to lose our future — our future is our children,” he said. “We are getting older and our children are like a tree root. If someone uproots then, how are we going to stand?”

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan responded to the boys’ deaths by calling a meeting with members of the South Sudanese community.

“On behalf of the Victorian government, I send my profound condolences directly to the families, friends and schoolmates of two children we lost to a senseless crime,” she said.

“One was 15. One was just 12. Crime hurts everyone in our community – but it hurts victims and their families the most. Every Victorian is thinking of them and holding them close to their hearts.”

The Government is setting up the South Sudanese Australian Youth Justice Expert Working Group and regular meetings will take place in the community.

“Community leaders are enduring a profound sense of loss and pain,” she said.

“The solutions to the fight against violent crime can’t just be imposed upon the community. They must come from the community.”