S. Sudan-Ugandan border strike paralyses business

June 11, 2012 (JUBA) — At least 800 passengers destined to and from
Juba, the South Sudan capital remained stranded over the weekend
following a strike staged by motorist in protest at what they claimed
was “mistreatment” by South Sudanese security personal at the border
with Uganda.

John Drani, a business man along the border told Sudan Tribune on
Tuesday that hundreds remained stranded at Elegu border post at Atiak
Sub-county, in the Ugandan northern district of Amuru, after motorists
mainly from Uganda and Kenya complained of harassment by South
Sudanese officials.

The protestors, according to Drani, burnt tyres and completely blocked
roads using stones, heavy tree branches and logs, which denied
accessing to either country.

Ben Kirika, the Uganda People Defense Forces (UPDF) intelligence
officer at the border post told the Uganda’s Daily Monitor, that the
situation, if not well handled, could escalate and get out of hand.

“We asked them to handle matters slowly but it seems they are really
up to it to ensure that their grievances are sorted immediately, they
are not the ordinary drivers and traders who always ply here,” Kirika
was quoted saying.

Busho Ndinyenka, the Ugandan ambassador to South Sudan largely blamed
some section of the Ugandan community of addressing their grievances
through “wrong channels” instead of approaching the relevant
authorities.

“I can tell you there is no problem at the border. All that is
happening are small sections of people trying to complain over minor
issues, but using improper ways,” the ambassador told Sudan Tribune by
phone.

The Juba government, through their embassy in Kampala, last week
apologized to the Ugandan business community in Juba over claims that
the traders have been the latest targets of mistreatment and
harassment by the South Sudanese.

Sarah Bol, South Sudanese ambassador to Uganda defended her
government, saying they some issues presented by Ugandan business
communities were “isolated cases”, making it impossible to immediately
address them.

The traders who spent last week in endless meetings with both Uganda
and Sudan officials were incensed that there was nothing that had been
done to reserve the situation. However, some traders have complained
of repeated harassment, and now are now demanding to schedule a
meeting with the South Sudan leader, Salva Kiir.

Issa Ssekito the spokesperson of the Kampala City Traders’ Association
(KACITA) was quoted saying they protested because they had exhausted
all the available peaceful options, adding that the traders’ matters
were now beyond others and required the intervention of the presidents
of Uganda and Sudan.

(ST)