Kenya issues travel advisory to South Sudan

Kenya issues travel advisory to South Sudan

The Kenyan government has issued a travel advisory warning its citizens to avoid travelling to parts of the Greater Upper Nile region in South Sudan over insecurity.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged all Kenyan nationals living or travelling to South Sudan to move away from and avoid traveling to areas where armed conflicts and inter-ethnic violence have occurred within the last six months.

“This travel advisory applies specifically to parts of the Greater Upper Nile Region and in particular Bieh, Latjoor, Akobo, Jonglei, Northern Liech states and parts of Maiwut, Eastern Nile and Boma states and Yei River State,” reads the statement.

The ministry further advised Kenyan nationals in other parts of South Sudan to exercise extreme caution as they undertake their daily activities.

“Kenyan Nationals should avoid unnecessary travels in these regions because the security situation is risky and their security cannot be guaranteed,”  added the ministry.

The government also urged all Kenyans in the neighbouring country who have not yet registered with the Embassy in Juba to do so immediately.

This comes after two Kenyan pilots who were abducted by members of the outlawed Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) returned to the country on Tuesday, February 20.

The two; Captain Frank Njoroge and Co-pilot Kennedy Shamalla were released following month-long negotiations between South Sudan and Kenyan government officials.

Captain Njoroge and Mr. Shamalla were captured after their plane crashed into a region controlled by the rebels on January 7, 2018. During the crash, one person and livestock were killed prompting the rebels to demand for compensation.

Sources indicate that they were released after the family paid the Ksh.11 million ransom that the rebels were demanding. The rebels had initially demanded Ksh.20 million before negotiations.

 

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south sudan travel advisory Ministry of Foreign Affairs Abducted pilots

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