Africa-Press – South-Sudan. President Salva Kiir addresses government officials during the swearing in of the members of the National Electoral Commission and the National Constitutional Amendment Review Commission. [Photo: PPU]
President Salva Kiir has ordered stringent border control with Sudan.
He said the rampant movement in the area could impede national security. Kiir issued the directive during a high-level meeting held on Friday to address the recent escalation of communal violence in the Greater Bahr el Ghazal region.
President Kiir urged the security organs to ensure that no weapons are smuggled into the country by the people fleeing the conflict in Sudan.
He said the smuggled arms are being used by the youth to fight and engage in the ongoing conflicts currently between the communities in Abyei, Warrap, and Western Bahr El Ghazal States.
“You must work together to control your borders, especially with Sudan,” Kiir said.
“Some people may take advantage of our gesture of allowing brothers and sisters from Sudan to flee the current conflict and use it as an opportunity to deal in arms. This will undermine the security of our borders. So, coordinate your efforts with relevant institutions at all government levels,” Kiir added.
Also, he condemned the violence in the regions and directed the Chief Administrator of Abyei and the governors of Warrap and Western Bahr El Ghazal States to take immediate steps to de-escalate tensions and engage with relevant stakeholders to restore peace between the affected communities.
The high-level meeting was attended by the governors from the Bahr el Ghazal region, national ministers and some top government officials from the security sector, which culminated in a draft of resolutions to be implemented.
Among the attendees were the Minister of Presidential Affairs, Joseph Bakosoro, Government Spokesperson Michael Makuei; Presidential Advisor on Security Affairs, Tut Gatluak; and Director General of the Internal Bureau of the National Security, AKol Koor, among others. The governors who attended the meeting were Governors Rin Tueny Mabor of Lakes State, Joseph Manytuil of Unity State, Sarah Cleto of Western Bahr el Ghazal, Tong Akeen of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, and Kuol Muor Warrap State.
The Minister of Presidential Affairs, Joseph Bangasi Bakosoro, after the meeting told the media that they accorded an urgent end to hostilities and the deployment of security forces to facilitate free movement of people, goods, and services in the affected areas.
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