Mogae�s staff trapped in South Sudan
Tefo Pheage | Tuesday July 12, 2016 18:00
Fresh fighting in the South Sudan capital, Juba, has left multitudes dead, including two Chinese UN peacekeepers. Non-governmental organisations and other countries involved in the peace initiatives in the country are scrambling to evacuate their employees and citizens away from the violence.
The latest round of violence erupted when troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and first Vice-President Riek Machar, who harbour deep distrust in each other, began exchanging fire in the streets of Juba last week.
Yesterday, Mogae’s private secretary, Rhee Hetanang who is currently in Nairobi with the former president attending meetings over the South Sudan issue, told Mmegi that Mogae was safe, but extremely worried about his staff members and compatriots still in Juba.
“He constantly mentions his worry about his staff members and countrymen in Juba who are still trapped there because flights have been cancelled. He is currently struggling to evacuate them,” Hetanang said.
Mogae’s staff members include four Batswana, two of whom are part of his security detail. Equally in danger are another four Batswana working in the United Nations in Juba who are still trapped. Three are with the UN Mission in South Sudan while one is with UNICEF.
Kenya Airways, which operates two flights a day to Juba, has suspended all flights to the besieged city citing the “uncertain security situation”, while Britain’s foreign office has advised against all travel to South Sudan, saying “the security situation in Juba has deteriorated” since Friday. While official numbers have not been released in the recent clashes, some reports suggest up to 250 people have been killed since last week.
In a response to the situation, Mogae yesterday issued a statement appealing for the immediate cessation of hostilities in South Sudan, and an immediate return to the implementation of a peace deal.
The former president expressed regret with the fighting in Juba, which has not relented in the past two days, calling on the parties to the conflict to exercise restraint to avoid any further loss of lives and destruction of property.
UN chief, Ban Ki-Moon has also described the violence as unacceptable, saying it has the potential of reversing the progress made so far in the peace process.