Kenyans trapped at Juba UN camp

By KURIAN MUSA and CYRUS OMBATI

Juba, South Sudan: Over 20 Kenyans are trapped in Mabania town on the border of South Sudan and Ethiopia, after an attempted coup against President Salva Kirrs’ government.

All border points were closed moments later by the South Sudan government and all flights that go through Juba have been cancelled.

According to Eunice Achieng Oballa, one of the Kenyans stranded in the South Sudan town border, she was to travel through Juba Airport but the occurrence changed her plans.

The town of Mabania is the operation point of most NGOs including Unicef, Fao, and World Health Organisation that have employed hundreds of professionals from Kenya.

Ms Oballa who spoke to The Standard on Phone said: “We are advised to observe our own security and keep vigil on our communication gadgets and also to keep enough drinking water because it is not known what the scenario might be like.”

The young Oballa who works for Veterinary Sans Frontiers Germany Project in South Sudan, said there are about 20 Kenyans trapped at the United Nations camp and that the United Nations personnel seem overburdened.

“We are stranded here and cannot move beyond the camp, we have sought refuge in here. It is a United Nations camp,” Said Achieng.

Back in Nairobi, Achieng’s family expressed fear the Government has not done enough to save their kin from imminent danger across the border.

Meanwhile, Kenya’s former Foreign Affairs Assistant Minister Richard Onyonka has faulted Kenya and the Africa Union (AU) for the attempted coup in South Sudan on Sunday night.

Onyonka said Kenya and AU failed to forestall the situation that had been anticipated a long time ago and challenged the leadership to swiftly move in and calm the parties involved.

 “The signals had been there but our leaders failed to move in and quell the tension. If they do not contain the situation it will become a regional problem and worse than what we have seen there,” said Onyonka.

tribal groups

He added the problem pits the main tribal groups Dinka and Nuer and urged President  Uhuru Kenyatta to focus on South Sudan and ensure it is addressed to safeguard the region and more than 40,000 Kenyans working there with their property.

 Onyonka said the failure for South Sudan’s referendum and election to hold will be blamed on Kenya and AU, which were its guarantors and needed to monitor the development of all internal matters. “Why both Kenya and AU failed is an issue that we need to know because it is in our benefit that South Sudan matures and becomes stable,” he said.

 Onyonka said if the crisis persists, parties should ensure there is a safe corridor to enable foreigners there leave safely.

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir said Monday an attempted coup by soldiers loyal to his sacked former deputy Riek Machar had been put down.

 It came after heavy gunfire overnight Sunday, Monday and yesterday in the capital, Juba.

 Mr Kiir said the government was in full control of the capital, and announced a night-time curfew for civilians. Tensions have been high in South Sudan - the world’s youngest country - since President Kiir dismissed his entire cabinet, including Vice President Riek Machar, in July in an apparent power struggle. 

Mr Machar, who had indicated he planned to contest the presidential elections in 2015.a