A national member of parliament has accused "cartels"
inside the Office of the President of supporting the Uganda People's Defense
Forces' (UPDF) incursion into South Sudanese territory for personal benefit.
Hon. Bol Joseph Agau, an NDM party MP representing Yirol
West County in Lakes State, condemned the sale of territorial integrity by a
few individuals he claims are within President Kiir’s circle.
“We might rise one day and find out that Juba County is one
of the districts of the Republic of Uganda. As we speak, Uganda has encroached
the whole KajoKeji,” said Hon. Agau.
“Magwi County, as we speak, is under the control of Ugandan
armed forces. To make this issue very bad and ugly, Uganda has flown over us
here, leaving us in Juba, and UPDF is now operating in Raja County. As we
speak, they are in Wau.”
Hon. Agau also claimed that the UPDF has taken control of
over 200 villages in Kajo Keji County of Central Equatoria, Magwi County in
Eastern Equatoria State, and Raja County in Western Bahr el Ghazal State. He
stated that this is all facilitated by the security apparatus within the office
of President Kiir.
“As we speak, they are in connivance with the security
apparatus, which are cartels within the office of the President and this
country is under control of the UPDF. This territorial integrity of the
Republic of South Sudan cannot be compromised on cartels,” Agau claimed.
Agau’s remarks drew support of the majority within the
Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA). He called for drastic
measures if the situation is not addressed.
“If the country is surrendered to the Ugandan government,
let this Parliament be dissolved so that we are the Republic of Uganda
citizens. We cannot give the country to the cartels. The security cannot
be compromised so that it is given to the cartels,” he emphasized as the whole
house stood up clapping for him.
The MP highlights the broader implications of the alleged
encroachment, pointing to the loss of natural resources and sovereignty.
“If the oil has gone and the minerals have gone, the
security of this Republic, which is a sovereign security, territorial
sovereignty, cannot be given to the cartels,” Agau warned.
Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba responded to the frustration by
acknowledging the seriousness of the situation and requesting the presentation
of a formal motion.
“This is a substantive issue and should be put in a motion
form and presented to the house so that the relevant authorities can be
summoned to answer,” Hon. Kumba stated.
The MP raised the issue amid growing concerns about the
UPDF's presence in South Sudan. Local authorities in Magwi and Kajokeji
counties have reported increased harassment and displacement of communities by
Ugandan forces.
The situation remains tense, with calls for immediate action
to protect South Sudan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
In August, Maj.-Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, spokesperson for the
South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), said the issue of UPDF
encroachment is a matter for the national government, not the army, and that
SSPDF only intervened when some of its soldiers were detained by the UPDF.
“I have been talking about this, but it is more or less the
same as the national government. I think three or four years ago a committee
was formed to resolve it, and if it keeps repeating itself, maybe you should
take it up to the national government,” Lul stated at the time.
The South Sudan constitution places national defense,
national security, and national border protection under the authority of the
national government.
