Security Operations Tightened In Juba Ahead Of July 9th

Security operations in Juba are expected to intensify for the remaining four days ahead of South Sudan’s Independence Day celebrations.

Most shops and small scale retailers have closed down their business premises at the heart of Juba town including taxi operators and motorcyclists commonly known as Bodaboda who have been barred from operation.

Chandiru Sunday is a tea seller in Custom market; she told Gurtong that government authorities ordered them not to operate for a week starting yesterday. “They just inform us that, we should not work for one week starting from today,” said Chandiru.

Commuters from Juba travelling to Kampala and other parts of South Sudan were left stranded yesterday in the streets of Juba since all the main taxi parks are closed down.

“Asuma! wenu mahata Yei biga?” literally translated in English as; “where is the Yei Taxi Park now?” a female passenger wondered while talking to Gurtong since she wanted to go to Yei County over 100 miles from Juba.

Most streets in Juba are filled with hundreds of civilians who can’t reach their work places, market and hospitals due to these decrees.

Juba is preparing to host thousands of guests in a historical national function; the recognition of the South Sudan Independence confirmed in a referendum early this year in which nearly 90% of all South Sudanese voted for secession.

Addressing the press yesterday in South Sudan Hotel, the Minister of Information for the Government of Southern Sudan, GOSS said security will be monitored as part of the efforts for the celebrations of the Independence Day.

“Security measures are being put in place all over South Sudan to ensure a peaceful and orderly environment for the week’s activities,” Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin confirmed to the press yesterday.

“Some 3,500 representatives will attend including kings, chiefs and elders from the ten States, leaders from the business community, civil society, women’s groups and the youth movement,” Marial added.

According to Marial, 30 heads of States are due to attend the function with the Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al Bashir acting as the Guest of Honor.

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