MTN restores communication for highland residents of N. Bahr El Ghazal

By Hou Akot Hou

Mobile Telecom Network (MTN) has restored communication for thousands of people displaced by floods in Majok-Yithiou area of Northern Bahr El Ghazal state.

 Garang Bak, the mayor of Majok-Yithiou town located in the highland, said the mobile communication network was restored on Wednesday.

 “We are too grateful to MTN for opening the network because it will address our security concerns to authorities within the shortest time.This is something that made us get excited,” Bak told Juba Echo on Thursday.

Majok Yithiou is located on the border with neighboring Sudan, which is currently engulfed in a devastating conflict between the Sudan Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 15.

Bak called on MTN to provide residents with simcards and airtime to ease communication.

“We need MTN simcards so that we purchase them as it is something that will ease communication services,” he said.

MTN engineer Markas John, said they already installed solar panels to power the network equipment, adding they will soon replace it with thermal generators.

 “We first started with Majok-Yithiou network and other networks like Malith-Alek Yai will be opened. There is an area which I am not familiar with it is about five miles away from Majok, it’s network will be operational as well,” John said.

He disclosed that other areas they are targeting include Warguet, Malith-Alek Yai and Amarjal.

Warguet is also bordering Sudan and Sudanese militias often launch attacks on it’s residents.