South Sudan recruiting fighters from refugee camps - report

Seeking help. South Sudan Refugeees at Bidibidi refugee settlement in Yumbe District in August 2016. FILE PHOTO

What you need to know:

  • The report also accuses international NGOs of refusing to employ residents who have donated land for refugee settlements.
  • The report recommends that government increases police presence in the refugee settlements, support training on refugee and host community relations, and strengthen community policing.

A new report has accused South Sudan warring factions of recruiting refugees from settlements in northern Uganda to fight the war back home.

The report, which was conducted by the International Refugee Rights Initiative (IRRI) between December 2018 and May this year, indicates that while members of the warring parties in South Sudan always visit the refugee settlements to reunite with their families, others target political opponents.

It urges government to monitor cross-border movements to keep out combatants.
“Conduct a thorough investigation into recruitment and abuses against refugees by South Sudanese armed actors, and ensure individuals involved are arrested and prosecuted,” the report recommends.

Ms Achieng Akena, the executive director of IRRI, while launching the report last week in Kampala, tasked the government to ensure that parties in the South Sudan conflict are held accountable for their actions.

However, Mr Innocent Ndahiriwe, the head of refugee integration and legal affairs at the Office of Prime Minister, denied the report findings.
“Let anyone challenge me on this with evidence because we have never come across cases of recruitment of refugees from settlements,” he said at the weekend.

Uganda’s open door refugee policy has been hailed globally. However, the report says the refugee presence has exacerbated land conflicts among Ugandan communities.
The report also accuses international NGOs of refusing to employ residents who have donated land for refugee settlements.

The report recommends that government increases police presence in the refugee settlements, support training on refugee and host community relations, and strengthen community policing.