South Sudan downplays UK travel warnings over insecurity

November 30, 2015 (JUBA) - South Sudan has downplayed reports on the worsening insecurity in the country, despite recent warnings from the United Kingdom advising its citizens against traveling to the young nation.

The country’s foreign affairs minister, Barnaba Marial Benjamin said South Sudan’s security situation had greatly improved in the past two years.

“There is no curfew any more in Juba town to indicate the fragility of the situation. People are moving freely. Those few cases which occur like the issue of thefts, robberies, snatching away from the hands of the women their hand held bags are isolated cases, which cannot constitute the issuance of a travel warning to any foreign citizens,” Marial said Monday.

“These are minor incidences which take place even in the UK America and in all other developed and the under developed countries”, he stressed.

The spokesperson of South Sudan’s police service, James Monday also dismissed reports on the fragile security situation in the country, arguing that the capital, Juba and other towns are now secure after government adopted joint patrols comprising of the police force, security and the army.

The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in a statement, said there have lately been violations of the ceasefire and more attacks on humanitarian organisations after a British aid worker was killed in Juba in February 2015.

The further claimed that some recent demonstrations in Juba have turned violent.

The statement further said it will be difficult for the UK to provide consular assistance in the event of further deterioration in the security situation. It however warned its citizens in South Sudan that if they choose to remain in the country, they should remain alert to the local security situation.

In recent months, according to the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the conflict has centered on Upper Nile and Unity states and these tensions remain extremely high throughout north and eastern parts of Jonglei state.

The UK government warnings came ahead of the visit to Juba by the advance team of South Sudan’s armed opposition (SPLM-IO) whose chief negotiator is expected in Juba as part of the peace deal implementation.

(ST)