Leaders questions entry of South Sudan refugees

In Summary

Illegal. Leaders in Lamwo District have expressed concern about the illegal influx of South Sudan refugees into the district.

Lamwo. Local leaders in Lamwo District have called for urgent intervention of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), following the illegal entry of South Sudan refugees.
A total of 22 refugees from South Sudan reportedly crossed into the district from Ikotos County in Eastern Equatorial state last week, fleeing a clash on December 8 between government-led Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) soldiers and rebels, 60 kilometres from Ugandan border.

Mid this month, a total of 360 South Sudanese fled Ikotos County after fighting broke out between the SPLA and rebels, leaving one SPLA soldier dead and another injured. They were briefly kept at Madi-Opei and later transferred to Dzaipi Refugee Camp in Adjumani District by UNHCR.

In an interview, Lamwo Town Council chairperson Charles Ocaya said although the fighting has ceased, most of the refugees who crossed through Madi-Opei Sub-county have settled without reporting to the immigration authorities at Madi-Opei border post.
“Currently, we are estimating about 22 individuals who are settling illegally. We also believe there are other refugees who do not want to be taken to resettlement camps,” Mr Ocaya said.
He said the refugees should be relocated to refugee camps where they can get medication, food and shelter.

Lamwo District chairperson Matthew Akiya told Daily Monitor that the district leadership will trace the refugees and take them through the legal procedures for accrediting a foreigner to settle in a country without violating the international law on refugees.
Mr Titus Jogo, the refugees desk officer at the Office of the Prime Minister, said his office has for the past weeks received more than 400 refugees from South Sudan who reported willingly to the immigration office.

He added that those who crossed into the district but have failed to identify their status cannot be forced to the refugee camps although their presence affects security.
Both South Sudan president Salva Kiir and his former vice president and rebel leader Dr Riek Machar in August signed a peace deal in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to end almost wo years of bloodshed following the conflict that displaced millions of South Sudanese and caused death of tens of thousands of people.

Background
Security has been volatile for the last two years since the December 2013 war that broke out in Africa’s youngest nation between the warring faction led by former vice president Dr Riek Machar and President Salva Kiir. Dr Machar was sacked by President Kiir who accused him of plotting to overthrow his regime.

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