South Sudan police say country’s security under control
July 25, 2013 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s National Police Service said the country’s security situation is under control, calling citizens to distance themselves from politics and continue with their usual routine.
Police spokesperson Col. James Mande Enoka told the media that the security in Juba and the whole of South Sudan remains stable.
He said security forces were working day and night to maintain law and order and protect lives and properties.
The South Sudanese government on Wednesday deployed heavily armed security forces, comprising of police and regular soldiers, to guard key government institutions in the capital, Juba, following president Salva Kiir’s decision to dissolve the government and relieve his long-time vice-president Riek Machar.
Meanwhile, a reported gunshot on Wednesday in Konyo-Konyo market, one of the busiest markets in Juba, sparked widespread panic in the city, causing people to flee in all directions and shop owners to close their businesses, amid fears of large-scale violence.
“Therefore, South Sudan National Police Service wants to assure the general public that the security situation in the country is normal and calm. There is no curfew in town so people are advised to go about their daily lives without fear or panic,” the police spokesperson said.
Col. Mande said that security services were more than capable of maintaining security in the country, adding that the overall security in Juba has improved since independence.
He urged citizens to welcome the extra deployments, saying the troops were there to protect civilians.
Army spokesman Colonel Philip Aguer has denied the deployment was linked to the president’s decision, saying the military build-up was part of routine work to protect key government institutions in the city.
He said rumours of insecurity in Juba and other parts of the country were false and that the situation remains “normal and fine”.
“There is no security situation anywhere as a result of the decrees issued by the president”, Aguer said on Wednesday.
(ST)