Upper Nile region to deploy more troops to boost election security
January 7, 2015 (JUBA) – Faced with an increasingly growing and expanding violent rebellion, governors from the three states in the Upper Nile region have asked president Salva Kiir to allow them arm with air force capability and deploy extra troops to in the region, if the presidential and legislative elections are to be held this year.
The forum reportedly called for deployment of more security forces from states not affected by conflict and that issues of security be treated as key during election period.
“People are concerned that these elections may be disrupted by the rebels and that people would be afraid to go to the voting even centers. This would require deployment of more troops. The troops we have on the ground in our various states are not enough,” Puoc said Wednesday.
“We requested the president to instruct the general command to deploy consider deploying more troops with air force capability and full equipment to provide adequate security during the vote,” he added.
Although president Salva Kiir has not announced whether the army would deploy more troops in Upper Nile region, a source said the former accepted the request in principle.
An alliance of political parties in the country have called for the delay of this year’s polls, citing insecurity and delays by the government to consolidate peace and stability.
The electoral commission says it is prepared to go ahead with the vote meant to restore the legitimacy of the government, although a number of requirements are yet to be met.
Observers from Upper Nile region, however, say these territories are too insecure in some parts of the three states of unity, Upper Nile and Jonglei to hold an election at all and many foreign observers will not get security clearance to go up there.
But governors from the three states have maintain that the vote could go ahead as planned.
“Definitely the elections will be conducted in all the areas and this was why the governors’ forum recommended deployment of the security forces from the states which have not been affected by the current conflict to the states which have been affected. This is now the basis of the request. It is a follow up of the recommendations”, Puoc explained.
The conflict in South Sudan broke out late 2013 after disputes within the ruling SPLM party led to confrontations between Kiir’s troops and fighters loyal to his former deputy, Riek Machar.
The United Nations says at least 10,000 people have been killed since the conflict broke out although the International Crisis Group (ICG) puts the figure at about 50,000.
(ST)