James Basha, the Maban County Commissioner in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State, says the county is relatively calm and has remained united in terms of social cohesion.

He also called on the locals to preserve unity among the South Sudanese in the county. “We don’t segregate between the Nuer, Shilluk, Dinka, Latuka and Maban tribe as well as other who tribes who are living peacefully in the county,” he said.

“Some people in the government questioned why my county is welcoming people from certain tribes which are not supposed to be welcomed, but I am abiding by the constitution,” he added.

Basha was speaking to Radio Tamazuj after a week-long official visit to Juba, during which the commissioner was scheduled to meet Vice-President James Wani Igga and the Upper Nile Governor Simon Kun Puoc so as to brief them on the recent security developments in the County.

In particular, Basha wished to discuss the bombings of Guffa and Khor Tombak “and also the problems of the border between us and Melut County.”

Basha stated, however, that he was unable to meet the vice-president due to his engagement with other issues. It was reported last week that Igga had actually traveled to Kajo-Keji, south of Juba, after an attack on a police station there, and the governor may have been visiting Ethiopia.

“I neither met His Excellency the Vice President nor the Governor due to their engagements with other schedules, but I was able to meet the Deputy Governor John Ivo Mounto,” he explained.

The commissioner briefed the deputy governor on the recent bombing at Khor Tumbak and Guffa areas by the Sudanese Air force and issues pertaining to dispute over administrative boundaries with the Melut County, he said, adding tht the Sudanese government would be held responsible for the bombing.

“I informed the deputy Governor about the latest bombing by the SAF deep inside the county and the issue of borders with Melut County because there still some slight issues to be resolved after the state government intervened,” he said.

Deadly quarrel at refugee camp

Meanwhile, refugees in the county say that a fight broke out with Maban natives at Jendrassa camp on Friday 5:00 p.m., causing the death of one person.

In what started as a dispute over a goat, three people were injured lightly and taken to a health centre in Jendrassa, one was wounded more seriously in the leg and referred to Bunj, and another identified as Bashom Wad Al Faki, 65 years-old, was killed on the spot.

Sources noted that police were contacted and the county commissioner sent a number of police to maintain security in the camp.

Photo: Maban Commissioner James Basha, 20 Feb. 2014 (Radio Tamazuj)