South Sudan begs Nigeria for help
The Republic of South Sudan has appealed to Nigeria to intervene in the bloody crisis that broke out between the government troops and members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army.
The clash rocked Juba, the South Sudan capital between July 7 and 10, 2016, claiming scores of lives.
The new African state called on the FG to mediate in the ongoing crisis to prevent the situation from deteriorating, adding that Nigeria greatly contributed to its independence from the Arab Republic of Sudan.
The Charge d’Affairs, Embassy of the Republic of South Sudan in Nigeria, Dr Rick Puek, who addressed a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja, recalled the leading roles Nigeria played in Liberia and Sierra Leone, urging the nation not to fail South Sudan in its trying moment.
The envoy said, “I, therefore, call on the government and the people of Nigeria to help President Salva Kirr in restoring permanent peace to South Sudan. We have no better brother or sister than Nigeria.
“Nigeria has the capacity to help restore peace to South Sudan; Nigeria has done it in Liberia, Sierra Leone and other African countries. As our big brother, please help us, we need your help.”
He said the current crisis in Juba was caused by an officer of the SPLM, who allegedly opened fire on government solders at a checkpoint when he was asked to stop for routine check.
The officer reportedly killed 10 soldiers in the process.
Puek explained that the government had wanted to investigate the incident to bring the perpetrator to justice, adding that the President had invited First Vice President Riek Machar and some members of the executive council to a meeting at the presidential palace.
According to him, while the meeting was ongoing, the officer who was wanted for the killings, launched an attack on the presidential palace, but died during the incident while the First VP lost most of his bodyguards.
The envoy said his country did not want deployment of additional United Nations troops, alleging that the UN soldiers on peace-keeping mission in the country were not providing any form of protection to the civil populace.
“The over 12,000 UN troops in South Sudan were not permitted to enforce the Chapter 7 of their mandate; they are not patrolling, enforcing law and order or protecting the civil populace. There is no need sending additional troops as called for by the UN Security Council, we want to demilitarise South Sudan and not increase the military presence in the country,” he added.
The clash rocked Juba, the South Sudan capital between July 7 and 10, 2016, claiming scores of lives.
The new African state called on the FG to mediate in the ongoing crisis to prevent the situation from deteriorating, adding that Nigeria greatly contributed to its independence from the Arab Republic of Sudan.
The Charge d’Affairs, Embassy of the Republic of South Sudan in Nigeria, Dr Rick Puek, who addressed a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja, recalled the leading roles Nigeria played in Liberia and Sierra Leone, urging the nation not to fail South Sudan in its trying moment.
The envoy said, “I, therefore, call on the government and the people of Nigeria to help President Salva Kirr in restoring permanent peace to South Sudan. We have no better brother or sister than Nigeria.
“Nigeria has the capacity to help restore peace to South Sudan; Nigeria has done it in Liberia, Sierra Leone and other African countries. As our big brother, please help us, we need your help.”
He said the current crisis in Juba was caused by an officer of the SPLM, who allegedly opened fire on government solders at a checkpoint when he was asked to stop for routine check.
The officer reportedly killed 10 soldiers in the process.
Puek explained that the government had wanted to investigate the incident to bring the perpetrator to justice, adding that the President had invited First Vice President Riek Machar and some members of the executive council to a meeting at the presidential palace.
According to him, while the meeting was ongoing, the officer who was wanted for the killings, launched an attack on the presidential palace, but died during the incident while the First VP lost most of his bodyguards.
The envoy said his country did not want deployment of additional United Nations troops, alleging that the UN soldiers on peace-keeping mission in the country were not providing any form of protection to the civil populace.
“The over 12,000 UN troops in South Sudan were not permitted to enforce the Chapter 7 of their mandate; they are not patrolling, enforcing law and order or protecting the civil populace. There is no need sending additional troops as called for by the UN Security Council, we want to demilitarise South Sudan and not increase the military presence in the country,” he added.
