S. Sudan’s president declares state of emergency, holds security meeting
July 18, 2017 (JUBA)- South Sudanese President Salva Kiir on Tuesday convened an emergency meeting of the national security committee in the capital, Juba a day after declaring a state of emergency in parts of the country.
The order did not, however, mention which specific places in the state were affected. It not known which areas will be affected since such a declaration is usually followed by the introduction of special measures such as increased powers for the police or army, usually connected to civil unrest or natural disasters like earthquakes.
Martial laws apply for civil unrest in the area. And in most cases, the measures affect operations of local schools and other economic activities since it hampers movement.
South Sudan’s First Vice President Taban Deng Gai, Vice the President James Wani Igga, Adviser for Security Tut Gatluak, Minister of National Security, Obuto Mamur, Minister of Defense Kuol Manyang, Minister of Interior, Michael Chiangjiek, Minister of Justice Paulino Wanawilla and the Minister of Information, Broadcasting & Postal Service, Michael Makuei Lueth attended the meeting.
However, the other officials and officers who attended the meeting were the minister in the office of the president, Mayiik Ayii, finance minister, Central Bank governor, the inspector general of police, deputy chief of defense forces, director generals for internal and external security bureaus of the security service, Akol Koor Kuc and Thomas Duoth and director of army military intelligence, Gen. Marial Nuor.
The country’s minister of interior, who doubles as the spokesperson of the committee, Michael Chiangjiek said that the meeting discussed security situation in the Countrywide and the measures to be used to resolve the matters
Chiangjiek emphasised on the recent communal clashes between Jonglei state and Boma states were part of the agenda of the meeting held today. The committee, he said, condemned in “strongest” terms the attacks in which 30 people lost their lives, 18 wounded and 7,000 herds of cattle allegedly taken.
It was not clear which community took cows from which community in the region.
Unconfirmed reports, mainly on social media, blamed the ethnic Murle over the raid.
Chiangjiek said that the committee had agreed to form an investigation committee to look into the incident urgently. He said that the Boma state government had been ordered to collect all cattle that were raided and sent back to Jonglei state in order to avoid revenge from the youth of Jonglei state.Other issues discussed at the meeting were the deteriorating security situation in Gogrial state.
The committee reportedly agreed to deploy the army in the area to provide security and protect citizens.
(ST)