People in Wau protest against intervention force

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Council of Ministers resolved during its last meeting in Nairobi to sent more troops to South Sudan, backing the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). The plan to have soldiers from Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, Rwanda and Ethiopia deployed to Juba – following renewed deadly clashes between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and his former First Vice President Riek Machar, were already discussed during the African Union (AU) Summit in Kigali.

Wau residents, among them many school children, held a peaceful demonstration in the state capital Wau, rejecting the proposal to deploy regional forces in the country, increasing the number of the United Nations peacekeepers in South Sudan. The protestors marched from Wau Molid playground to Wau main market and finally to the State Governors’ offices to present their petition to be forwarded to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan in Wau.

The protesters marched chanting “no to the deployment of foreign regional forces in the country”. The petition further accuses the Troika countries (UK, USA and Norway) of violating the sovereignty of South Sudan as an independent nation. The petition, read-out by the Civil society representative Santino Madut Uchalla, recognises that the UN has played a positive role in keeping peace between Sudan and South Sudan, but the civil society claimed it has had a negative impact on South Sudan.

“The UN should know that the government of South Sudan is capable to solve its own problems, as the leadership of this country ordered the cessation of hostilities, general amnesty and establishment of military court marshal which is functioning now in dealing with any crime committed during the past violence” the statement reads.

“We strongly reject, condemn and denounce the foreign troops intervention and proposed sanction on the sovereign South Sudan,” adding that enough is enough. The petition further urged the UN to support South Sudan in implementing the peace deal rather than deploying additional foreign troops.

The petition was received by the State Governor Andrea Mayar Acho, who ensured the protestors that the message will reach the UN and the president’s office as directed in the copy.

On Monday, July 25, Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth said the deployment of additional troops is a “non-starter” for the government.

However, South Sudanese citizens showed mixed reactions to the news that AU troops could soon be deployed in Juba. “The truth is I think for now it is a good idea. Maybe it can help bring normality to the country,” one South Sudanese activist told The Niles. “The intervention will work as a referee and help protect the civil population,” says another activist.