Address South Sudan shootings

While South Sudan is duty bound to provide safety for foreign nationals, Ugandans in South Sudan have a reciprocal obligation to respect the laws of their host country...

Last week, two Ugandans were seriously injured in South Sudan when unidentified gunmen shot at the vehicles they were travelling in. The attack that took place at Jebel, 45km from South Sudan’s capital, Juba, comes three weeks after two other Ugandan traders were shot dead and another injured in Nesitu, South Sudan. Similar incidents have been reported in the past.

These attacks reflect a broad and disturbing pattern. As a new nation, South Sudan is facing daunting challenges, including sporadic episodes of gun attacks. One of the core challenges, however, is the safety of foreign nationals, especially Ugandans, who work and do business in South Sudan.

The frequent attacks on Ugandan traders affects the cross-border trade between Uganda and South Sudan. Juba should, therefore, accord Ugandan citizens due protection and fair treatment.
While South Sudan is duty-bound to provide safety for foreign nationals, Ugandans in South Sudan have a reciprocal obligation to respect the laws of their host country by legalising their status.

Ugandans have also complained of harassment, arbitrary arrests and imprisonment by Sudanese authorities. There are, however, Ugandans who get into trouble with the law because they live in South Sudan illegally. Such cases, when identified, should be handled professionally through competent courts of law.

The attacks on traders, particularly on the highway, is a worrying trend that deserves urgent attention from both South Sudan and Ugandan authorities. Recently, the Inspector General of Police, Lt. Gen. Kale Kayihura, and his South Sudan counterpart, Gen. Deng Tieng, said the two countries were taking positive steps to resolve the concerns raised by Ugandans.

Part of the plan, which was agreed upon last year, was to set up an integrated highway patrol on the Uganda/ South Sudan highway. The move to have officers from Uganda and South Sudan monitor both sides was aimed at improving security.

Since a memorandum of understanding was signed by the two countries last year, it is crucial to evaluate the integrated patrols system, which was expected to weed out rogue elements that terrorise travellers on the highway. As the recent attacks show, the highway is still insecure; the two countries still have work to do.