By Bida Elly David
South Sudan has been experiencing a harsh border security with neighboring countries, especially, Kenya and Uganda, as disputes among cross-border inhabitants remain shaken, yet the army can’t get involved.
Lack of response from South Sudan People’s Defense Forces [SSPDF] to such threats of border insecurity has for long time, left the country’s lawmakers pondering with many answered questions.
The national legislators, last week summoned the minister of defense, Chol Thon Balok to clear the clouds surrounding the rampant insecurity and cross-border disputes with the neighboring countries.
Minister Chol encountered series of accusations over the army’s failure to react to such cross-border disputes between South Sudan and her neighbors, blaming his docket for not acting on external threats.
The parliament blamed the SSPDF for failing to control the destruction caused by the Ugandan People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) following their forceful intervention in Bamurye of Kajo-Keji County, killing a woman and injuring many.
They said the ministry of defense has failed to provide soldiers at the border with basic needs for their outpost, leaving the rate of insecurity to increase.
However, being well acquainted with matters at hand, Chol enlightened the legislators on a number of issues patterning his ministry, particularly the army operations, within the country and along the borders.
Top among the several obstacles, the minister said soldiers deployed at the border underperform due to low and delayed salaries that won’t meet their demands.
Throwing the ball back to lawmakers, Chol noted that the parliament and the government have a role to improve remuneration of the army to motivate officers to protect the country against foreign aggressors.
The minister further observed that protecting the boundaries of South Sudan is a collective responsibility of all citizens, including the politicians.
He also termed the cross-border fights as a dispute between brothers of same historical background, communities sharing the same languages, in both countries.
“Concerning encroachment into South Sudan territory, Ugandans, Kenyans, and Congolese are our brothers. Across the border between South Sudan and Uganda, you will get Madi, Acholi, and Kuku of both countries speaking the language, the same thing with the Topotha,” he told the lawmakers.
He said that the army deployed at the borders won’t take drastic measures against the neighbors before investigating the communities involved in the deadly incidences.
“We, as SSPDF, cannot take measures to open another frontline. We are handling it through diplomatic offices. These are the same communities causing conflict, not the governments of the neighboring countries,’’ the minister said.
However, Chol raised a concern over encroachment into duties of the defense forces, citing the Kajo-Keji incident, where committees were formed to resolve border disputes without his consent.
The defense minister said the SSPDF can’t take immediate measures to passively declare war against the UPDF before digesting the root causes of the disputes.
The recent cross-border clashes between South Sudanese and Turkana of Kenya, as well as the battle between Ugandans and South Sudanese at Adjumani, have left many souls lifeless and other displaced.
However, the Minister demonstrated his will to ensure that the border disputes are mitigated with a call for remuneration improvements for the national army.