James Aguer, a member of South Sudan’s parliament and head of the popular committee for peace-building, has warned of possible tensions over occupation of citizens’ homes by other people especially SPLA soldiers in Juba.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Aguer noted that several houses of displaced people in the UN Protection of Civilians site in Juba have been seized by SPLA soldiers.
“We as the popular committee, we call on them to move out, if someone does not have a home, he should look for his relative so that they live together and leave those houses empty,” said Aguer.
“When the IDPs come out, we want them to go directly to their homes. So we are calling on them to leave, there are civilians and soldiers, but 80% are soldiers who came from Bor, Malakal and Bentiu, they do not have homes here in Juba,” he added.
He further said the conflict-displaced people are currently suffering inside the UN base and that they cannot return back home because their homes were occupied by SPLA elements that came from Malakal, Bor, and Bentiu areas.
Aguer pointed out that his committee managed to recover more than 1,000 homes in Mangatain, Munuki and Jebel Dinka areas. But he added that most of the houses are still being occupied by the SPLA soldiers who apparently refused to leave.
The committee previously asked the SPLA leadership to issue tough decisions and evict its members from the citizens’ houses in Juba, but nothing happened so far, according to the lawmaker. He appealed to the government to take action against the SPLA soldiers who refused to vacate the houses and give peace a chance.
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