Juba warns of return to total war
What you need to know:
- South Sudan says full-scale combat could erupt if attacks in Kordofan continue
The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement has warned of a full-scale war if attacks on Kordofan state and the Blue Nile are not stopped.
The warning comes at a time when a steady stream of refugees from Sudan has been entering Kenya in the past three weeks following an outbreak of violence in South Kordofan/Nuba mountains.
The SPLM says since violence broke out in June 2011, there were 380,000 internally displaced people and 30,000 refugees in Yieda South Sudan.
This, therefore, means Kenya will continue receiving a flood of refugees should the clashes continue.
In a statement sent to UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon and the UN Security Council, the SPLM said Kenya, as the custodian of the 2005 peace agreement that led to the birth of the Republic of South Sudan, was expected to intervene and ensure tensions between Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan did not deteriorate into another full-scale war.
In such an eventuality, Kenya would bear the brunt of the fighting as refugees would stream into the country.
Sources at Kakuma refugee camp said there were many unregistered people who reported to the camp but left after a week or so.
“We see some refugees being brought into the camp but they disappear after a short while,” said the source.
Insecurity fears
Turkana West district commissioner Patrick Muriira said the laws that govern the handling of refugees in foreign nations prohibit the local authorities from blocking them from entering Kenya.
“We are well-informed about the influx of refugees into Kenya through Nadapal and other entry points. As the authority in place, we are expected to receive them,” said Mr Muriira.
The influx of refugees into Turkana has increased insecurity fears in the county, say local leaders.
Residents of Kakuma town have raised concerns over the huge number of unknown people entering the county.
A resident, Mr Samuel Imoit, said tension was rising over the large number of foreigners with no official word from the authorities.
“We were told the refugees had left but we are now seeing many more being brought into the camp.
“This poses a security threat to us in the county as anybody can just walk into Turkana without resistance from the authorities,” said Mr Imoit.
The rebellion in Southern Kordofan led by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North Sudan faction, and in the Blue Nile and Jonglei areas, could develop into a full-scale war if enough security measures are not taken by the international community to defuse the situation.
