Museveni (right), Kiir (left). Photo: Isaac Gideon/File
Juba, January 30, 2023 (SSNA) — A planned security meeting between authorities of South Sudan’s Central Equatoria State and Uganda’s West Nile regional leaders failed to move forward after a South Sudanese team didn’t show up for the meeting, the South Sudan News Agency (SSNA) has learned.
The meeting, which was scheduled to take place on January 28 in the Yumbe district of the Ugandan Northern Region was about to secure the release of Ugandans who were arrested by South Sudanese security personnel on the 21st of January after the authorities became suspicious of their activities.
Ugandan authorities say those imprisoned are Nyaga Asirafu, Mbaku Kassim Salim, Ajobe Kassim Boboli, Godi Dafala, and an unnamed individual.
It is not clear why the security agents detained them. However, the SSNA was told by local officials in Kajo Keji County that the detained Ugandans were suspected of working for South Sudanese National Salvation Front (NAS) rebel group.
A senior Central Equatoria State official who asked his name not be used because he was not authorized to speak to the media disclosed to the South Sudan News Agency that the reason South Sudanese authorities didn’t show up for the meeting was that the Ugandan side accused them of demanding a ransom of 1.5 million Ugandan Shillings (just over 400 US dollars).