By Peter Lokale Nakimangole
TORIT, 13 June 2012 [Gurtong] –In a circular , the department said registration of aliens commenced on 7 June and will end on 7 July 2012.
It cautioned that any foreigner found not registered will be liable to prosecution and deportation in accordance with South Sudan’s laws.
Officials told Gurtong that the move is aimed at ascertaining the number of foreigners currently being hosted by South Sudan after its secession last year.
The Deputy Director for operations in the Immigration office in the state Jacob Mading Nyok clarified to Gurtong that the directive has been issued by the national government.
A statement obtained by Gurtong indicates that the Department of Immigration has started the registration of all foreigners at immigration offices in all the 10 states of the country.
Nyok said that the exercise is not meant to intimidate foreigners who are in the country but a normal census that seeks to know their residences and activities being undertaken by the foreigners.
“ For any foreigner to get official acceptance for registration by my office, he or she must possess either a passport or a travel permit, including a national identity card from his or her country of origin”, said Nyok.