Kiir blames Social media for refugee crisis
South Sudan President Salva Kiir speaking to the media blamed the refugee crisis on the rise of social media that scared people into fleeing the country. He said there is no fighting in the country but rather blamed people conspiring against his government and the social media propaganda that driven people to leave South Sudan.
In the same interview he said he refused Riek Macher to attend the national dialogue saying that Macher’s return to South Sudan would lead to instability.
Juba will reject new UN mandate
The government of South Sudan is looking into the UN involvement in their country and they say that they are not going to accept the automatic renewal of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan Mandate when it expires in December this year. The minster of Cabinet affairs Martin Elia Lomuro said that for the renewal of the UNMISS mandate will only happen with the approval of the people and the government.
Another minister Michael Makuei accused the UN of creating an environment to allow them stay in the country. He accused the UN of reporting that Juba is at peace because they want to stay. It is because of this that the government feels they should evaluate first whether the UNMISS mandate should be renewed at end of this year.
The government however called upon the US government to offer assistance to them instead of going through institutions. This was after the USAID chief Mark Green visited the country and said that Washington was reconsidering backing Salva Kiir.
Fighting kills 7
At least 7 people have been confirmed dead and eight others wounded when a group of armed youth attacked a police post in Rumbek the capital of the Western Lakes state. Among the injured was a police officer in charge of the bodyguard unit who got caught in the gunfight between the youth and security forces.
