By Manas James
Upper Nile State government has dismissed reports alleging that there is an ongoing mobilization to attack the state capital, Malakal town.
Last week, the Troika expressed deep concern regarding reports of an escalating mobilization of armed groups in Upper Nile State, particularly in Malakal Protection of Civilians (PoC) site.
Luk Sadhalla Deng, the state minister of information, said in an interview with No. 1 Citizen Daily Newspaper, that such reports are unfounded.
“As a government, we are alarmed by these reports. They are not true. There is nothing as such,” he stressed.
“What happened a week ago or so, was a cattle raid in Baliet. This was an isolated incident because security forces were dispatched immediately, and it was not a big deal,” the minister explained.
The minister also disclosed that security remained heightened since last month’s inter-communal clashes in the Malakal POC and assured citizens of government’s commitment to provide protection.
“Since the last incident, the security situation has been calm in the state. We have been engaging the rival communities and they have since committed to peace, the minister added.
He said that although there is no planned attack and government dispels reports of mobilization; it will beef up the security in the area.