South Sudanese security forces are preventing nationals from leaving the country, following unrest that began on 7th July , 2016 between rival armed forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar, Amnesty International has revealed.
Amnesty International says that it has received reports from two charter companies that National Security Service officers have ordered them not to carry South Sudanese nationals, particularly men.
The organization says it was also told by one NGO that one of its South Sudanese staff was prevented from boarding a flight to Entebbe, Uganda.
“This arbitrary conduct by the South Sudanese security forces is totally unacceptable. South Sudan must respect people’s right to freedom of movement, including the right to leave their own country,” said Elizabeth Deng, Amnesty International’s South Sudan Researcher.
“It is absolutely critical that both parties to the conflict do not obstruct safe passage of civilians fleeing to places of refuge both inside and outside of the country.”
In a security message for citizens, the American embassy said that the government of South Sudan is scrutinizing travel documents of dual nationals, “with an apparent focus on South Sudanese government and political affiliation, particularly of male dual nationals,”
The Ugandan military on Thursday began rescuing Ugandan citizens trapped in neighboring South Sudan that has been engulfed in conflict for the past couple of days.
Thousands of South Sudanese people have reportedly gathered at the country’s southern border seeking to enter into Uganda.
On Tuesday, Juba International Airport was reopened after a ceasefire was announced to end days of fighting between the country’s rival armed forces.
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