Kiir says deployment of troops around Machar’s house ‘normal exercise’

JUBA – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Monday evening said that the deployment of security forces around the residence of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny was normal and does not amount to insecurity in the country’s capital Juba.

This comes after the South Sudanese heads of state took to the ministry of cabinet affairs to address the escalating tensions in Juba where First Vice President Machar’s residence was surrounded by heavily armed elements of South Sudan national Security Service and the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces.

The deployment of troops on Sunday night sparked tensions and panic in Juba with speculations that First Vice President Machar was being put under house arrest by President Kiir.

Speaking to reporters, Kiir said there is no insecurity in Juba and that last night’s deployment of troops in the areas near First Vice President Machar’s residence was a normal practice saying criminals are ’embedding’ themselves in residential areas across the country’s capital.

“There is no problem of insecurity in the streets of Juba. What is being done in Juba by the army and security forces is a normal thing. It can happen in any country because here in Juba there are criminals who have embedded themselves among the citizens,” he said.

“These people may go and shot gun near the house of Riek Machar, we might think that it is Riek that has begun attacking people. So, the presence of security forces in the streets does not mean that there is insecurity in Juba, it is not,” he added.

Machar issued a statement this afternoon and condemned the deployment of security forces around his residence and in the whole of Juba city saying it creates unnecessary panic among the civil population is similar to incidents that led to December 2013 and July 2016 fighting in Juba.