W. Bahr el Ghazal tightens security ahead of president’s visit

July 12, 2014 (WAU) – Authorities in South Sudan’s Western Bahr el Ghazal state said security has been tightened ahead of president Salva Kiir’s visit to the capital, Wau on Sunday.

“The state government has deployed heavy security personnel along the road leading to Bagari, the Wau county headquarters and its surrounding forests where the president is expected to visit for the inauguration of the new administrative building,” the state police commissioner, Akot Deng Akot told Sudan Tribune Saturday.

Similar deployments, he said, were made at Nyinakok, the Jur River headquarters to ensure the president’s safety during the high-profile visit. Some roads will remain closed in the early hours of the day with restricted movements in town as part of the security arrangement.

“Security is up to date outside and inside Wau. Yesterday, I visited Bagari which is a forest that was affected by the presence of defected forces in April, to inspect the situation there. As I speak to you now, the area is cleared from the rebels, they have moved towards Northern Bahr el Ghazal state,” remarked Akot.

Meanwhile, state government appealed to citizens to turn out in large numbers and welcome the president, whose posters are all over airport road.

President Kiir is expected to officially inaugurate Bagiri on Sunday and open Nyinakok the next day.

“On 15 July, he [Kiir] will open Wau teaching hospital women’s ward and will also address a public at Wau main stadium the same day,” the state governor, Rizik Zakariah Hassan, said.

(ST)