A number of the stranded South Sudanese citizens in Abu Zaed Locality of Northern Kordofan state in the Republic of Sudan complained of harassment by the local authorities and residents of the region. They have called on the South Sudan government for assistance to emigrate back to their country.

South Sudanese residents in the region said that properties are often burgled and sometimes taken by force. They pointed to an incident two days ago when they were attacked by unidentified robbers riding camels at night who stole an amount of 7 million Sudanese pounds in addition to stealing clothes and some other possessions.

They pointed out that they have reported the case to the local authorities, but the authorities refrained from prosecuting the perpetrators and instead asked them what they are doing in Abu Zaed given that South Sudan had separated from the Sudan.

They expressed their fears of repeated attacks and appealed to the South Sudan government to contact the competent authorities in order to transport them back to South Sudan before the explosion of the conditions.

The number of South Sudanese in North Kordofan may be about 7000.