All is Calm: SPLM Assures Amid Reports of Foreigners Leaving S. Sudan

By Juma John Stephen

JUBA, 08 April 2010 (Gurtong) –The SPLM Secretary for Training, Research and Planning Dr Wani Rondyang said reports were  reaching the SPLM Central Equatoria desk that many foreigners from the neighbouring countries are leaving the semi-autonomous region for fear of massive insecurity during the historic polls.

“The SPLM wants to dispute the rumors that there is going to be insecurity around the elections period. This has especially been fuelled by rumours that we are going to close the boarders with our sisterly neighbouring countries”, he stressed.

“We want to reassure our people from these neighbouring countries who are doing their businesses or working with NGOs here in South Sudan that these fears are baseless. SPLM wants these elections to be free, fair and peaceful in South Sudan particularly in Central Equatoria State”, said the SPLM official.

Dr Rondyang, who is also the Central Equatoria State election advisor and supervisor, said he has consulted with the Deputy Director in the Ministry of Internal Affairs concerning the elections and he assured him that everything will run normally.

“The ministry has assured me that there will be normal movement of the people at the boarders during the elections”, he said.

The official added that the fears were not only coming from foreigners but also from South Sudanese officials at all levels.

“These complaints were coming to us from all levels, even from some of our comrades. When the rumors persisted, we had to call this press conference to clarify the situation”, said Dr Rondyang.

“Many Kenyans are leaving because of the rumors. I talked to a reliable Kenya source who confirmed that indeed Kenyans are leaving South Sudan. We have proved that from the number of people going to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to collect travelling permits. So we want to call upon them not to fear anything as the security situation is going to remain normal”, he said.