Members of the state and national parliaments visited Nimule town in Eastern Equatoria on Sunday seeking to calm the situation and quell rumors that had caused a large number of people to flee to Uganda in the last few days.
Nimule lies at South Sudan’s southern border, along the main import route from Uganda. The key customs post and trading centre is inhabited primarily by the Madi tribe but also by officials, traders and soldiers of other ethnicities.
Members of parliament (MPs) from the area have arrived to brief the community about the rumors and to encourage people to remain calm, according to a local community leader.
At a rally held at St. Patrick Primary School in Nimule, the national MP Julius Ajeo Moilinga and state MP Aventore Bilal reportedly called on people to stop fleeing Nimule and called on those who had fled to Uganda to return.
“They instructed people to be calm, nothing will happen to them,” said the source adding, “The situation is now normal. People are not panicked. They are now happy about the MPs’ visit.”
Crossings blocked
However, authorities are still blocking people who are leaving as refugees to Uganda. This was confirmed by multiple sources on Saturday and again on Sunday.
The road from Nimule to Uganda remains closed for some South Sudanese.
“They are targeting people who are trying to escape from the rumours. If you are going for medical treatment, you are free to go. But if you want to cross for safety you are not allowed,” explained a community leader in Nimule.
Detainees released
Several people taken in for questioning by military or security authorities in Nimule over the last few days have since been released, including two Madi youths known as Gamar Hassan and James.
During detention they were reportedly asked about the whereabouts of the ex-SSDF commander Martin Kenyi and whether they had any ties to him.
Kenyi was in Kampala last month where he planned to reestablish a group called the Equatoria Defense Force, one of his associates told Radio Tamazuj. It has been rumoured that he since moved to the Nimule area, but this has not been confirmed.
Photo: MP Julius Moilinga
Related:
S. Sudanese troops seek to block refugees fleeing Nimule to Uganda (6 Dec.)