By Ephraim Modi Duku Sokiri
Senior government officials from South Sudan and Uganda on Friday, reached a consensus to jointly work together to end violent clashes between communities at the border.
Early this month, violence erupted between Kajo-Keji residents of South Sudan and Yumbe district of Ugandan, after an encroachment into South Sudan territory. One civilian was killed while others sustained injuries in the incident.
A team led by Central Equatoria State (CES) governor, Emmanuel Adil Anthony reached on the ground to foster relations between the two border communities.
The team comprised of the CES Security advisor, Mr. Dayo Angelo Lodu, State Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Hon. Wayi Godwill and Moyo Residents District Commissioner (RDC) Mr. Gore Moffin.
The emergency cross-border security meeting between Central Equatoria State of South Sudan and Moyo, Yumbe and Koboko districts was held on Friday 19th May in Moyo District.
CES Security Advisor, Dayo Angelo Lodu highlighted that the two sides resolved on a system to monitor the return of encroachers from the Ugandan -Yumbe and Moyo districts.
“We came out to form a community to look into what happened on the ground to see whether these people have returned to their places, or they have to be resettled in Uganda,” he said.
“This community has been in existence for a long time. We need to bring them together and to make sure that the calm should come back among them because they are actually inter-married each other.”
Mr. Angelo also said that one of the core resolutions is that a joined security team has been formed from Uganda and South Sudan to carry out patrols along the borders to curb the insecurity situation.
“We have also made an agreement so that the security will do their patrolling. Where will the UPDF end and will also SSPDF end and otherwise, we also talked of identification of the landlords, both sides to sit down to make sure that such activities will not continue,” he alluded.
He said the committee will submit their report after meeting to scrutinize the assessment of the affected people, and for a community dialogue, including vesting the community leaders of both sides to toughen their affairs on easy control of the border.
“After their meeting, they will be able to render report to us. Then we will be able to allow them or resettle these people whose houses are built in the farms, but those who have been brought, have to be taken back to where they came from,” said Angelo.
“We also empowered the LC1 and 3 and on the side of the Kajo-Keji (Head persons, the paramount and head chiefs) to strengthen their relationship and make sure that whoever wants to cross to South Sudan for farming must ensure that they follow the legal procedures.”
The two parties also agreed to open major roads linking Yumbe District to South Sudan, especially Yumbe via Kei, Kaya to Lainya County, Yumbe via Goboro and Fitinambya to Kajokeji County with a purpose of promoting their bilateral relationship.
The meeting also reiterated their respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of border communities of both countries.
The parties also reached a grasp to boost the on-going efforts to integrate the East African region, strengthen its unity and promote peace, security and stability through the structural prevention of conflicts.
The parties also discussed the safety and protection of the South Sudanese refugees hosted in the Republic of Uganda in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Thereafter, the delegation of the two parties agreed to act in spirit of nurturing peace, security and teamwork in the cross-border meeting and signed it.