South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit is scheduled to visit Yei town in the proposed Yei River State in February despite rampant insecurity around the area.

The area of Yei that remained largely peaceful throughout the two years of civil war that preceded South Sudan's August 2015 peace agreement is now experiencing a wave of killings and rampant insecurity.

Speaking on Friday after the cabinet meeting, Michael Makuei Lueth, Minister of Information and Government Spokesman, said that the people of Yei and church leaders had invited President Kiir to visit them in Yei town in February.

“The people of Yei and especially the churches had invited President Salva to visit them in February, and the President has accepted to visit Yei and attend the celebrations of the ECS church in Yei in a date to be determined in February,” said Makuei.

Last Week, South Sudan’s First Vice President Taban Deng Gai ended a visit to Yei town where he called on local residents to end war and embrace peace and reconciliation.

UN officials including UN Special Adviser the Prevention of Genocide Adama Dieng have recently released reports about the deterioration of the security situation and massive displacement of civilians in Yei.

File photo: President Kiir chatting with the Defense Minister kuol Manyag at the airport on his way to Equatorial Guinea in November 2016/Radio Tamazuj