South Sudan: Kajo-Keji County Hands Over 2 Suspected Rebels to Uganda

The authorities in Kajo-Keji County in Central Equatoria State last week handed over two Ugandan nationals, whose names were withheld, to their counterparts in Moyo District in Uganda

The two have been in detention in the army barracks since they were arrested by the SSPDF, who were carrying out operations in areas where opposition forces are based.

Kajo-Keji County Commissioner Jackson Mule confirmed on Saturday that the two Ugandan nationals are from Yumbe and Arua districts and were suspected of either being members of a Ugandan rebel group or informants for the SPLA/-IO.

“I found that there were people who were detained by our military. Some of them are local people who were suspected to be from the National Salvation Front (NAS) and other holdout groups who refused to join the peace process,” he explained. “We released them, but I discovered that there were two Ugandan citizens who were from the districts of Yumbe and Arua. These two suspects were apprehended during operations in the areas of Ajio in Panyume and other surrounding areas.” “While our army was having operations in those areas, these two suspects were found staying with the SPLA-IO in their barracks, so they were captured and we started investigating them,” Commissioner Mule added.

He said that the handover is part of the transnational security measures to address crimes between Kajo-Keji and the bordering districts of Uganda and that the security situation is calm.

“Currently, the security situation is calm following the incident that happened in Nyaiga-muda, where three of our civilians were killed last month. Indeed, we have been hunting for the culprits and we managed to arrest some of them and they are now in detention in the army barracks,” he stated. “We also have mutual understanding as a county with the districts in Uganda to control transnational crimes. Sometimes someone commits a crime and runs to Uganda and hides in the refugee camp, and some people commit crimes in Uganda and cross to our county.”

“And we have agreed in our local arrangements that criminals who want to take advantage of the border shall be apprehended and then the information shall be shared with our counterparts in Uganda,” Mule added.