Locals in the Pogee area of Parajok Payam in Magwi County, Eastern Equatoria State, have confirmed that life has returned to normal following the withdrawal of the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) after clashes with SSPDF over the weekend.
On Saturday, the UPDF and SSPDF clashed in Chubi in Owinykibul, Magwi County. One SSPDF soldier was killed and two others injured.
Following the clashes, the South Sudan authorities deployed SSPDF reinforcements along the border with Uganda to cool down tensions.
Last week, residents of Pogee accused the UPDF of encroaching into South Sudan territory and carrying out patrols which caused panic.
Aloka Robert, a resident of Pogee Boma, said usual businesses and border crossings have resumed.
“We are okay and there is nothing wrong. The community members are moving freely between Uganda and South Sudan,” he said. “And those who are going for cultivation are safe. This is the time to prepare gardens for sesame (simsim) so people are now in the bush preparing farmlands.”
David Otto Remson, the Magwi County commissioner, confirmed that calm had returned to his county and the border areas following the recent tension.
“The general situation is already calm. I have the three borders of Lobone, Pogee, and that one where the incident happened (Owinykibul) and the people were fearing,” he said. “The situation is now normal and people resumed moving in and out of the country.”
Commissioner Otto added that the government is working hard to ensure that peace exists between the two neighboring districts in Uganda and Magwi county,” Commissioner Otto added.