Security relations between Juba and Khartoum “calm”: official

July 17, 2022 (JUBA) – A South Sudanese army (SSPDF) general has said the security relations between Juba and Khartoum remains “calm and stable”.

General Dau Aturjong Nyuol, the commanding officer for the military’s infantry division in Northern Upper Nile State also likened relations between South Sudan and its northern neighbor to that of a child and its mother.

“The general security situation in northern Upper Nile is calm and stable. People are moving freely between the two countries. Goods are coming into South Sudan from Sudan and people are going to Sudan to visit family members, friends or even go for medical care,” Aturjong said on Saturday.

He added, “Sudan with South Sudan are determined by politics. When politics are bad, it becomes an issue and trickles down to people at the border”.

Aturjong praised the political relations between the two country’s leaders.

“You know like in other countries, the army is subordinate to political leaders and the role of the army everywhere is to defend the territorial integrity of the country and contain foreign aggression. So, far there are no hostile military activities. The Sudanese armed forces are in their positions on the other of the Sudan and our forces on this side of South Sudan. Neither they nor us cross the border with arms. There is no problem,” he further stressed.

The military officer, other political and local leaders were in Paloch airstrip to receive the Governor of Upper Nile State, Abudhok Anyang Anei who was scheduled to participate in the Longechuk and Melut peaceful coexistence dialogue initiative.

For his part, Governor Anei lauded initiative, calling on the country’s political and local leaders to embrace peaceful coexistence among the various tribes.

(ST)