By Bosco Bush
South Sudan government noted being aware of the ongoing border-related issues across the international boundaries.
Undersecretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador John Samuel Bugo disclosed this on Wednesday.
“Like any other country, we are very much concerned about what’s going on at our borders,” Bugo said.
“When you take for example, we have a border with Sudan with over 2,000km, we are very much concerned, and given the other neighbouring countries, there are committees which are working for some time now and they are still in discussion, and we are engaging our counterparts in other African countries with regard to border issues,” the undersecretary explained.
The ambassador revealed that the government has formed various committees to collaborate with other African countries in finding amicable solutions to the border disputes.
“There are committees formed and working on the issues of the border in collaboration with other African countries to find an amicable solution,” Bugo stressed.
The comments come at a time when the country is facing serious concerns over foreign interference along its borders.
Early this week, the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) have allegedly beaten and chased away 15 civilian farmers in, Kajo-Keji County, Central Equatoria State, in latest encroachment claim.
According to Kenyi Henry John, the Chairperson of the Kajo-Keji County Youth, the incident started two weeks ago when a local youth from Serajale Boma cleared over 50 hectares of land for farming.
The UPDF and authorities from Uganda’s Moyo district, which borders Kajo-Keji, claimed that the land belonged to Uganda and were unhappy with the land clearing.
This is not the first time such an incident has occurred in the area. Last year, in May 2023, the UPDF reportedly killed a woman and injured four other men in Bamurye Boma, Kajo-Keji County, following a cross-border encounter after Ugandan nationals allegedly encroached and settled deep into South Sudanese territory.
The border security situation between South Sudan and Uganda, particularly in Kajo-Keji County, remains fluid, with concerns over the UPDF’s alleged presence and actions within South Sudanese territory.