The residents of Kapoeta South County in Eastern Equatoria State have voiced concerns over the recent deployment of the Necessary Unified Forces in Kapoeta Town.
According to sources in Kapoeta, the new force arrived in the town five days ago, sparking fear among residents. Most residents who spoke to Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday said they did not know why there was a heavy presence of the army in the town.
A Kapoeta resident who identified himself as Lokale said the troops are roaming in the town with their equipment.
“They have their equipment and weapons but we do not know exactly where they came from. There are very many soldiers and just randomly loitering in the town and some of them are drunk. The town’s residents fear that they might commit crimes,” he stated.
“When they were marching early in the morning on Monday, they chased away everyone playing football in the field and we do not know what they came for,” he added.
A Toposa Youth leader in Kapoeta who only identified himself as Alex said he also witnessed the presence of the newly deployed troops in the town but said he had no idea of why they were brought to the town.
“A few days ago we saw the army in Kapoeta but I do not know where they came from and what they have come to do,” he said.
A local journalist in Kapoeta who preferred anonymity confirmed the new military deployment from Torit and said soldiers often jog through the town in the morning while singing.
“There are some soldiers who were brought from Torit and they are in Kapoeta. They do their parade and I have been hearing them singing in the morning. I however do not know where exactly they are come from,” she said.
For his part, Kapoeta Mayor Elia Lokuda urged the local population not to fear and said the arrival of the forces was in line with the transitional government’s plan to deploy the unified forces across the country.
The first phase of unified forces was deployed at a long-overdue ceremony on 15 November last year, marking progress for the country’s lumbering peace process.
The unification and deployment of various armed forces was a key condition of the 2018 peace deal that ended a five-year conflict in which nearly 400,000 people died.
South Sudan is expected to conclude a transition period with general elections in December this year.
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