South Sudan army deploys forces at border of Unity and Warrap

May 22, 2016 (BENTIU) – South Sudanese officials in Warrap and Unity regions said they have started deploying troops of the South Sudan Army, the SPLA, and police to arrest the cross border cattle rustling in the area.

John Bol Mayak, Mayom county commissioner in the newly created Northern Liech state, has told Sudan Tribune on Saturday that both sides have deployed South Sudan police forces and Prison Service in “Northony”, a common border town of both regions.

He said forces from Fourth Division mobile military forces under the command of Major General Mathew Puljang in Unity state have been deployed at the Warrap border, adding that additional forces from Division 3 will soon join the border forces from Warrap region.

He explained that the deployment of military and police forces in the area was to enforce law and order and the Prison Services forces was tasked to arrest and monitor criminals in the prison.

“The first consignment of SPLA forces has arrived in the area from Northern Liech [Unity] state, and we are expecting some more forces from our neighbouring Warrap state, soon later this month,” Mayak told Sudan Tribune.

He added that the deployments of SPLA forces in the area will be to patrol the area and defend it from any aggression that may be a threat to civil populations.

Cattle rustling in South Sudan’s Unity, Warrap and Lakes states have been common practices between societies who live on the triangular states.

A lot of people have perished as a result of cattle raiding and authorities had never found a solution to end the deadly practice.

The situation has grown worse in the two years of violent conflict in the country, as many civilians have re-armed themselves with ammunitions.

(ST)