South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Jenifer James
The government has approved the voluntary return for Sudanese nationals who no longer feel safe to stay in the country, in the wake of the recent violent riots triggered by the killings of South Sudanese nationals in Sudan.
This development came during the meeting between the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Amb. Monday Semaya Kumba and Issam Mohammed Karrar, the Sudanese Ambassador to South Sudan over the weekend in Juba.
According to a statement issued by the foreign ministry, the two sides also discussed the incident on January 11 in Wad Medani, Al Jazirah State, Sudan where a reported number of South Sudanese were executed by the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and their allied forces.
The killings sparked two days of night riots since January 16, in Juba and some States leaving 16 Sudanese nationals killed and several shops looted and vandalized.
“We have endorsed the voluntary return process for Sudanese nationals, ensuring that it is carried out safely and in full compliance with humanitarian principles. This initiative will be implemented in close coordination with the Sudanese Embassy in Juba,” said Kumba.
He revealed that South Sudan would also facilitate the return of its citizens from Sudan, urging Khartoum to ensure their safety and cooperation in the process.
“The safe and voluntary return of South Sudanese from Sudan is a priority. We expect full support from the Sudanese government in ensuring that our people are protected and their rights upheld,” said Kumba.
For his part, the Sudanese Ambassador to South Sudan, Issam Mohammed Karrar, expressed Sudan’s readiness to strengthen bilateral cooperation and address concerns raised by Juba.
“We appreciate South Sudan’s continued commitment to protecting Sudanese nationals within its borders. Our two nations share deep ties, and we remain committed to resolving any challenges through diplomacy,” said Mohammed.
Mohammed also said investigations into the recent killings in Wad Medani are ongoing, adding that the fact-finding committee is nearing it’s final report.
“The investigation is ongoing and we are working towards finalizing a preliminary report. We will share the findings in good faith and with full transparency,” he disclosed.
In addition, Mohammed said that Sudan would facilitate consular visits for South Sudanese officials.
Meanwhile, Kumba also addressed a January 23rd statement from the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which he described as containing unjustified allegations against South Sudan.
He assured that Juba would issue an official response.