Lawmakers representing Eastern Equatoria State at the national parliament said the Kenyan government is constructing an 11-kilometer road and creating a sub-county in South Sudan’s Nakodok area.
The legislators said the plan to annex part of South Sudan to Kenya started on January 27, 2023, in a meeting of Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary, and the governor of Turkana County.
In a press statement on Friday, the MPs condemn alleged incitement and encroachment plans made by Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithuri Kindiki in the meeting.
“We the members of the national legislature condemn…. utterances and intentions aimed at occupying and annexation of part of our territory by military recruitment and heavy deployment of (foreign) police reservists,” says the statement.
They said there is an 11km A1-road construction up to Nakodok and the creation of a new sub-county in South Sudan soil.
The new twist in border dispute comes as the dust settles after last month’s ethnic tension which erupted in violence between communities at the disputed Illemi Triangle – prompting Juba and Nairobi to intervene.
The lawmakers said the claim of ownership of Nakodok by the Kenyan government is depriving Kapoeta East County residents of access to their traditional water points and grazing land.
“The Kenya government should revoke the establishment of Kibish Sub-county and relocate it to the Kenyan territory. Claiming that Nakodok belongs to Kenya denies the Toposa citizens free movement to access their traditional water points and grazing land.”
According to MPs, there is an ongoing military recruitment and deployment by the Kenyan government with the intention of occupying and annexing part of South Sudan.
Julius Moilinga, a lawmaker who represents Magwi, called on the Kenyan government to immediately withdraw its forces from South Sudan’s territory.
“We call upon the government of Kenya to immediately withdraw its forces and move it to its immigration offices from Nadapal to Lokichoggo, and cease construction or developmental activities in the area.”
On his part, Samuel Loti, a Member of Parliament representing Torit said the encroachment is due to the South Sudan government’s negligence of the country’s southern borders.
“Our government has not been very serious about the security of our borders and this is why today Kenyans and Ugandans can easily walk and cross our borders knowing that we have not been minding our borders,” he said.
He added: “They have been bringing services to our areas in Ngom Oromo, Nimule, in Bira”.
Kenya previously denied claims that it has encroached South Sudan’s territory arguing that it respects the boundaries of its neighbors.
But its envoy to Juba, Samuel Nandwa was summoned in February to protest an alleged encroachment on South Sudan territory which sparked tribal clashes.
Ugandan encroachment
The statement further accused the Ugandan army of encroaching on several territories in Magwi, Ikwoto, and Budi counties.
“On a similar note, the same manner of encroachment by which the government of Kenya has encroached into our territories is also happening with our closest neighbor Uganda,” reads the statement.
The MPs said the Uganda People’s Defense Forces are carrying out illegal mining of minerals, extension of roads and marking of trees and physical features and drilling of boreholes in Owingkibul and several areas at the border.
They also said “in Tseretenya of Ikwoto County, 10km tarmac road is being extended deep inside South Sudan territory by the Ugandan government. In Bira area, farming activities by the UPDF Generals and Ugandan gunmen continue to raid and kill people on daily basis.”
They also said the Ugandan government has created a wildlife reserve in Budi County and encroached on New Cush.
The statement further said the sovereignty and territorial integrity of South Sudan are red lines and “a matter of life and death that shouldn’t be crossed by any country, whether friend or foe.”
“As a result, they can never be surrendered or given away for favor, interest, friendship or compromised for political, social and economic expediency.”
The MPs further hope “that our neighbours with whom we share a lot in common, Kenya and Uganda should reconsider their stance for peaceful coexistence in the spirit of EAC, IGAD and AU.”
Earlier, the government spokesperson Michael Makuei called for calm among South Sudanese over the Nadapal clashes at the border with Kenya “as the government addresses” the issue.
Later, the governments of South Sudan and Kenya agreed to form a Joint Technical Team to resolve the border dispute at the Ilemi Triangle.
