South Sudan police general threatens to use live bullets against Ugandan protestors

JUBA — South Sudan’s Director General of Civil Registry, Nationality, Passport, and Immigration, Lt. Gen. Atem Marol Biar has warned Ugandan nationals residing in South Sudan against demonstration saying that the government doesn’t have tear gases to disperse demonstrators but life bullets.

In August 2021, a group of Ugandans staged a protest outside Uganda’s Embassy in Juba against the increase in visa fees and the arrests of their compatriots.

They marched to the Ugandan embassy in Juba, and petitioned their ambassador over what they said were exorbitant visa fees levied on them by South Sudan immigration officers.

The demonstration emerged after 65 Ugandans were arrested in Juba for not having valid visas.

The arrests came after the government announced that all foreign nationals must have legal documents to remain in the country.

Speaking during a meeting between Immigration and Ugandan community in Juba, Gen. Atem said demonstration is prohibited in South Sudan.

“One thing I don’t like from you Ugandans and if you want to stay with us, you stop one thing and that is demonstration, don’t demonstrate here,” Atem said on Thursday.

“I said South Sudan is still the youngest nation up to this moment and you can agree with me, we don’t have tear gasses, we are still having what came with us from the bush.”

Atem said South Sudan has not bought teargases to dispense protestors

“For us here to dispense you, it is a life   bullet and we don’t want to do that and don’t demonstrate again whether in your embassy or Konyo Konyo market,” he said.

He added that “Don’t demonstrate if you want to be South Sudanese, what you do Uganda, don’t bring it here. Demonstration in Uganda is very simple but from us here, no, we don’t allow demonstration.”