July 31, 2016(Nyamilepedia) —— As fear of renewed fighting engulfs South Sudan capital, Juba, government officials are seen at Juba International Airport evacuating families to neighboring countries.
According to an employee working at JIA, most of the flights heading to Nairobi, Khartoum and Kampala since Wednesday this week are booked by families and relatives of South Sudan government officials.
“Entire week actually but from Wednesday, most of our flights were booked by first class citizens. Most of them are relatives of government officials going to Nairobi, Kampala and Khartoum” Said Mary an employee of JIA who refused to reveal identities of the officials for her own safety.
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Many government officials including president Salva Kiir, who owns family homes in Nairobi-Kenya, Kampala-Uganda, Khartoum-Sudan and Addis Ababa have had their families living abroad for the last three years of conflict but some kept their relatives, mostly distanced cousins and nephews in Juba, however, as fighting continues around Juba and other parts of Greater Equatoria, many officials are now evacuating their families to Kenya, Uganda and Sudan.
Mary believes that the evacuations are due to ongoing fighting and officials could be concerned of their own safety.
Despite the danger this war imposed on all residence, South Sudan government is indiscriminately not allowing some South Sudanese nationals from Machar’s Nuer tribe and other minorities to leave the capital, allegedly because they are loyal to Machar and the opposition.
Citizens of certain ethnicities who hold dual citizenships are put under tight scrutiny at the airport before they are allowed to leave the country.
While some citizens who tried to leave Juba have ended up in prisons, some have gone missing.
According to Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Michael Makue Lueth, who spoke on SSTV yesterday, South Sudanese nationals are only better off in South Sudan than any other country.
Hon. Makuei is calling on South Sudan nationals to remain in the country despite many atrocities and human rights violations being committed by those holding guns, commonly referred as “unknown gunmen”.
Despite many restrictions and dangers imposed on fleeing the country, hundreds of thousands of South Sudanese, mostly women and children, have fled the country within the last three weeks.
While over two thousand people cross border through Nimule to Uganda every day, many others are crossing through Lokichoggio to Kenya and others crossing the borders to the north to Kordofan and Darfur of Sudan.
When asked at the borders of why leaving the country, many stress insecurity and others are leaving because they found themselves alone in the village after their neighbors sneaked out.
Nearly all the foreign agencies and embassies operation in the war-torn South Sudan have evacuated their citizens and non-emergency staff two weeks ago. The embassies called on their emergency staffs to remain vigilant.
Many South Sudanese have fled to UNMISS protection sites, however, the army is not trusted if war renewed.
Scores of civilians were killed during the recent fighting and two Chinese UN Peacekeepers were killed during a direct confrontation when the army attacked the UN protection camps in Juba.
On Friday, the United Security Council authorized UNMISS to “use all necessary means” to carry out its tasks, however, unless UNMISS use more superior weapons lives of IDPs and UN Peacekeepers remain at a high risk.
6 comments
The rats leaving the sinking ship. Lueth denying to the very end that there is no government in Juba. No government structure (save some buildings with ludicrous furniture, plastered with grandiose symbols of the failed state). At this point “a regime” or “any regime”, better than the murderous mob still clinging on.
Later on we will all ask how the good intentions we all had could result in such a spectacular monumental failure. How we all allowed one man and his cronies to establish secret police, secret murder squads. How we allowed media to be silenced and journalists killed. How we stood silent when those who spoke out against the atrocities were beaten, killed or deported. How we stood roadside covered in dust whilst looking for food and medicine for our children, when the luxury Landcruisers speed past. How we were told about the proud heritage of our struggle for freedom, whilst billions were being stolen and sent to the Big Men’s western bank accounts. How our children died of malnutrition . and lack of medical care whilst the elite flew themselves and their families to Europe for treatment. How the politicians swarmed in front of the Tv cameras claiming the successes of the hard labour of INGO and NGO’s as if they had contributed in any way at all. How the old guard spewed preached peace whilst controlling forces committing unspeakable atrocities.
How silly scared the top of the mob became when the issue of a protection force was brought up. Scared that their unabated slaughter of men, woman as nd children would be curtailed.
Later on we will ask ourselves and the world around us why we allowed this to go on for so long?
why didn’t we nip it in the bud? we all saw the country fall to the bottom of the list of states in category after category. Failed state, most corrupt, least freedom of press, child mortality, starvation & displaced people and on . and on.
And finally, we see Lueth defending the castle of rubbish left behind after 10 years of Kiir. Those who can, fleeing the field. Wont be long before Kiir and Lueth also leave.
Still, the people are still there. Young and ready for a new nation, hopefully one bound tight to the constitution and free of the political constipation and wickedness of the previous mob.
10 years of carnage, incompetence and corruption.
Good riddance, Mr Lueth
great news indeed that the government officials admitted the failure of their government in the protection of the civilians as they knew that they are not the real officials who can help they people of the South Sudan rather than looting their properties and go away with them in the abroad to stay in exile with their families as they have started now evacuating their families from Juba to the abroad.
failure government will face it failure very soon.
Kirr must go by force
Where are you to force him to go?
the government said they are in full control of the areas of south Sudan why are they taking their families out side the country