South Sudan lawmaker furious over Ugandan encroachment, threatens to ‘capture Uganda’

JUBA, OCTOBER 1, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – A South Sudan member of parliament on Thursday expressed furry over the Ugandan army encroachment into the country’s territory, saying the world’s youngest country can “capture” Uganda.

Authorities in Kajo-keji County of Central Equatoria State had last week said that Ugandan People’s Defense Force (UPDF) have encroached 10 kilometers into South Sudan camping at Lowili village of Buri Boma and then abducted at least three civilians.

A senior government official told Sudans Post on condition of anonymity this afternoon that the commissioner of Kajo-keji had attempted to organize a meeting on September 22 with his Ugandan counterparty over the incursion, but that meeting was declined by the other side.

Speaking during a sitting on Thursday, Member of Parliament John Agany blamed the rush of South Sudan to join the East African Community (AEC) for the Ugandan government behavior and said that the Ugandan encroachment should not be tolerated.

“I was saying let us wait, I was not refusing, to join East African Community. But let’s be also at their level so that we come together, and we compete. But our people bloodlessly they said no you are delaying us let us join the community,” he said.

“Now encroaching into our land is that what we wanted to gain from them? Is that why we are seated here so that out resources are looted? No, we must say no to them, and it is a big no,” the furious member of parliament added.

Agany who is also the spokesman of the parliament said that South Sudan despite its smaller population compared to Uganda can defeat the Ugandan People’s Defense Force (UPDF) to capture its southern neighbor.

“We are very few, we are almost 12 or 13 million, but I tell you we can even capture Uganda. Yes, we can capture Uganda if it means that we defend ourselves. But we should not call for that situation because we thought we were brothers and sisters,” he said.

“So, let the message be sent to them here that we know what they are doing it is just a matter of time, we will regain every part of South Sudan unless it is something entitlement of them.

“But if it is claimed by force, no no I am sure we will regain that. Because I was a fighter myself. They even ran away in some areas when we were fighting. I known what they are, some of them do not even want to die, but for us we want to die it become out sovereignty,” he added.