E. Equatoria uncovers secret military training camp

November 7, 2014 (TORIT) – South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria state officials claimed they have unearthed a secret military training camp, which has been actively operating in Kapoeta East county.

Eastern Equatoria state governor Louis Lobong speaks to organised forces, April 30, 2014 (ST)

The state governor, Louis Lobong disclosed this while a security committee, comprising of lawmakers from the Greater Kapoeta region on Thursday.

The meeting sought the way forward and how to resolve the matter.

“This training camp is not known to authorities in both the national and the state government,” he told the visibly stunned committee.

The existence of the camp, Lobong said, scared the Jie county population, as many fled to Boma and other neighboring counties.

State authorities reportedly acted on a tip-off from non-governmental organisations that are currently operating in the area.

According to Lobong, the national interior and security ministries as well as the presidency have already been briefed on the matter.

“Consultations were carried out at all level in both state and the national [levels], but none has produced results as both offices denied knowing what was taking place in Jie county,” he disclosed.

However, Nasike Allah, a lawmaker from Kapoeta county said they would release a statement on the military camp discovery this Friday.

“Toposa land cannot be used as a military training ground with no any clear purpose as a secret ground by some individuals,” she said.

During the closed door meeting, journalists were exempted recording proceedings and only allowed to take notes. Several senior government officials from Eastern Equatoria attended the meeting, which ended with calls for immediate actions on the camp.

(ST).