Nairobi/Juba, February 21, 2018 (SSNA) — Kenyan government has issued a travel advisory for its nationals living in and traveling to the war-torn South Sudan, saying current situations on the ground are not suited for them.
The government claimed that insecurity is the main issue, citing war zones, especially areas where fighting is active and rebel-held territories.
The warning came just one day after South Sudanese armed opposition, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition freed two Kenyan pilots who were detained after their aircraft crashed in Akobo.
“Kenyan nationals living or traveling to South Sudan to move away from and avoid travelling to areas where armed conflicts and inter-ethnic violence have occurred within the last six months,” Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Monica Juma said in a statement.
According to the statement, the advisory applies to Bieh, Latjoor, Akobo, Jonglei, Northern Liec, parts of Maiwut, Eastern Nile, Boma, and Yei River State.
The Kenyan pilots were identified as Captains Kennedy Shamall and Frank Njoroge.
SPLA-IO Deputy Spokesman Lam Paul Gabriel said $107,000 had been paid to locals as a compensation, saying the airplane killed a woman and livestock after it crashed.