By Bida Elly David
The minister of information and government spokesperson, Michael Makuei Lueth has sounded an alarm on the influx of refugees and returnees from Sudan raising security risk concerns on the South Sudan border.
He suggested that comprehensive disarmament exercise ought to be prioritized to save the Country from external threats.
Speaking during a joint government press conference in the office of the president yesterday, Minister Michael Makuei said the on-going South Sudan peace road map will be in a glide of deterioration if restrictions and disarmament exercise is not carried since not all refugees and returnees come with the hope of settlement.
“The influx of these refugees and returnees will definitely have an impact on us all in one way or the other. As the government of South Sudan we need to prepare for the reception of these refugees and returnees’ he said.
“The other aspect that will affect the agreement in case of anything is the security aspect if we don’t handle it well at the boarders. If we allow these people, there will be influx to South Sudan by those who are carrying arms,” Makuei worriedly noted.
He suggested controlling the influx of refugees at the boarders will guarantee the future of South Sudan peace agreement as well as the safety of civilians whether being the returnees and the refugees from the neighboring Sudan.
“If we control them at the border, definitely this will have no effect on us and we will continue with the implementation of our agreement but if we allow them to come in and cause us problem inside South Sudan then we are likely to be affected” he noted.
“We have to be very sure that there is no influx to South Sudan by those carrying arms,” Makuei hinted.
Minister Michael however said government in collaboration with its partners is enthusiastic in welcoming the returnees and refugees to the County as long as they don’t carry arms for harm.
In response to the economic situation of the Country in relation to the Sudanese crisis, Makuei said South Sudan economy is protected through the Central Bank and the ministry of finance and economic planning noting that the war in Sudan has got nothing to do with the Country’s economy.
“Plans to protect our economy are already underway. It is not because of the Sudanese conflict that we now begin to plan for the protection of our economy. Our economy is being protected and the ministry of finance together with the Central Bank and the economic cluster have been meeting to plan on how to protect the economy,’’ he said
Makuei further underlined that whether South Sudan or Sudan will be in peace or not, economic planning will have no passive impact rather continues moving through the concerned bodies.
“The coming in of refugees and the returnees is not an issue and will be handled by the government of South Sudan together with the agencies”.
“Irrespective of whether South Sudan and Sudan come into peace or not, these economic plans will continue and currency will be protected by our economists” Michael said The government spokesperson however called on the minister of humanitarian affairs to put much focus in ensuring that relief is extended to the population as soon as they reach.