Crackdown May Force Kenyans Out of South

Hundreds of Kenyans living in the semi-autonomous Southern Sudanese region could be forced to return home following the latest crackdown on immigrants.

The crackdown which is being carried out in all the Southern Sudan's ten states, targets illegal immigrants whose influx has now been blamed on the worsening insecurity in the region.

Local authorities have blamed increased insecurity in the region to an influx of foreigners, most of whom are perceived to be part of several heavily armed gangs that have been terrorising residents of Juba city and its environs especially at night.

Most of those affected are individuals who have been operating food kiosks, saloons, barbershops, bodaboda business, car wash and even hawking households and vehicles parts.

One of the affected, Rose Njeri who spoke to the Daily Nation in Juba said , “I came here in 2007, I have been selling second hands clothes and even stationery, all my wares have been confiscated and now I might have to return to Kenya”.

Some of those arrested claimed that they have had to part with between 40 to 60 Sudanese Pounds (20-40 US dollars), to bail themselves out even after their wares or motorbycles have been confiscated.

Last month, the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS), led by President Lt Gen.Salva Kiir Mayardit, directed security agents to firmly deal with rising cases of insecurity that have also seen a number of foreigners lose their lives in attacks by gangs.

In his directive President Kiir said,”I removed the army, “SPLA) from towns but I will have to redeploy it because I am not happy about insecurity in Juba city in particular.

It has also emerged that after the first phase of demolitions that left thousands of Juba residents homeless, the Central Equatoria state authorities have embarked on a second phase of the exercise which targets taxi and operators.

Records at the Juba traffic headquaters put the number of the already confiscated a number of vehicles and motorcycles to 3,000 within the last three days of intensified crackdown.

Those affected have been forced to forgo their motorbycles or vehicles most of which are said to be lacking proper documents such as insurances, number plates and even log books.