Most enemy forces have been defeated, says National Security boss
JUBA - Security threats in South Sudan have greatly reduced since the country gained independence, the Minister of National Security, Gen. Oyay Deng Ajak, has said.
Speaking about the achievements of his ministry, Gen. Oyay said most of the internal and external enemy forces have been defeated.
He assured of maximum security during the country’s first independence anniversary.
“We have been fighting the criminals and their numbers have significantly reduced. I am confident that our people will celebrate peacefully,” Oyay told The New Nation in his office in Jebel, Juba.
The forces of George Athor are no longer a threat to national security and are being integrated into the security forces, he said.
Since the signing of the CPA, over 80,000 soldiers of other armed groups have been integrated into the organised forces, he revealed, calling their integration one of the major challenges.
Tribal conflicts, too, have gone down in most parts of the country, according to Gen. Oyay, including in the volatile state of Jonglei where the security forces have been heavily deployed.
He further noted that they remain on high alert for terrorism and attacks by the Lord’s Resistance Army.
“We are very aware of terrorism and the LRA in the region and our security forces are been training in counter-terrorism in friendly countries,” he said.
Since his appointment, he has also been working on a framework policy for the external and internal intelligence services, including the mandate, functions and missions.
“The National Security Service Bill has already been drafted and is at the Ministry of Justice to be discussed by the Cabinet and later by Parliament,” he noted.
On independence, Oyay, who served as SPLA Chief of General Staff under the late John Garang, said it was a well deserved achievement after a long struggle.
“I think the people of South Sudan have achieved the best. We did the best we could as human beings to get our freedom,” he said.
