Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Sudan Tribune

Plural news and views on Sudan

Civil society groups reject foreign troops’ deployment in South Sudan: official

July 25, 2016 (BENTIU) – Civil society organizations in the newly created Northern Liech state have rejected proposed deployment of regional forces to South Sudan, saying the decision by the African Union (AU) heads of state interfered with the sovereignty of the country.

South Sudan's president, Salva Kiir (centre left), with then vice-president Riek Machar at a rally in Unity state capital Bentiu on 8 April 2010 (Photo: Reuters/Goran Tomasevic)
South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir (centre left), with then vice-president Riek Machar at a rally in Unity state capital Bentiu on 8 April 2010 (Photo: Reuters/Goran Tomasevic)
Lam Tunguar Kueigwong, minister of information, culture and sports in a statement he extended to Sudan Tribune has confirmed that his state government has received a petition written by some civil society organizations in the state that the AU proposal is unacceptable.

He said Governor Joseph Nguen Monytuil has promised the public that the authorities in the country shall never or ever allow the foreign troops’ deployments in South Sudan.

“This had been responded positively by the governor of the northern Liech state that any intervention will be a response to aggression and war declaration by the South Sudan government and this is a red line. No single soldier will be allowed here in our land not even one,” he said.

Tunguar claimed thousands of civilians protested in the streets and later gathered and delivered letters to the governor and AU, the regional bloc, UN Secretary General and they protested strongly condemning any foreign intervention.

“They have rejected, any single soldier will be allowed as the president said the other day, the governor assures the people of Bentiu and echoed that this is accepted and the people of northern Liech did it well that they have come out and say that they don’t want the intervention,” he said.

The information minister added that the governor welcomed the decision by the civil society organizations to support the government in rejection of AU forces deployments, adding the local organizations acted in patriotism and love for the country.

“This is what is needed and now the international communities can see and hear that by themselves because the people have talked and this is the democracy needed. So don’t overrule us as the country,” he said.

However, Sudan Tribune could not independently verify names of organizations who took to the streets to oppose the regional troops’ deployment in the country.

(ST)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *