South Sudan: Tension is increasing in Jonglei state following a series of attacks against villages around Bor town

Report from Sudan Radio Service
By Sirocco Mayom, Tuesday, November 24, 2009:

(Bor) - Tension is increasing in Jonglei state following a series of attacks against villages around Bor town.

SRS reporter Sirocco Mayom has the details of the latest incident.

[Mayom Sirocco]: “Gunmen killed one man, wounded a woman and abducted three children near Bor when they attacked Pan Apet on Saturday night at around 1 am. One of the three children escaped amidst gunshots from the abductors and made it to Bor town. Jonglei state governor Kuol Manyang Juuk condemned the incident and accused the security forces of not carrying out their duties properly.”

Manyang David Mayar, a resident in Bor, says that the situation in the area is worsening by the day.

[Manyang David]: “The situation currently is actually getting worse for the residents. They leave their houses during the night and come back in the day. Children are not allowed to go outside during the evening hours and also at night. And when a person is called at night they have to reject that call because it may be agents of insecurity doing that.”

Efforts to reach the governor of Jonglei state to comment on the issue were unsuccessful.

Click on Jonglei label here below for related reports. Note, the website at http://www.sudanradio.org/news.php is being redesigned and will be back online very soon.

See report from Sudan Tribune November 24, 2009 by Philip Thon Aleu (Bor) November 23, 2009: Jonglei voter registration not affected by insecurity – official - excerpt:

The chairman of Jonglei state National Electoral Commission (NEC) says Monday that voter registration “has not been affected” by insecurity threats aiming to sabotage the process.

Ajang Alaak, the head of the NEC in Jonglei told the press in his office, however that voter registration per day is low and the transport of registrars remains a big challenge in the restive province.

At least 5 people have been killed and 5 children abducted over the weekend in Bor County which hosts the capital of Jonglei state. Mr. Alaak’s comment comes at a time where security situation at Bor villages remains tense following attack by armed men in different locations last week.

“The registration process has not being affected. There is no big threat,” Mr. Alaak responded when asked whether the voter exercise faces some shortcoming from insecurity build-up in areas surrounding Bor town. The attackers aim to “to disturb elections [due 2010] but we shall not allow,” them to do that Mr. Alaak further said.

At least 690,000 legible voters are expected to be registered in Jonglei according to the 5th 2008 National Census results. NEC officials consider a substantial number of voters will be registered with at least 51% voters within the reach.