President Kiir appeals to IDPs, refugees to return home

President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Wednesday appealed to the internally displaced persons and refugees to return back to their respective areas of origin or opt to be resettled in Juba.

“For those who will opt to return to their habitual areas of residence, the government will provide security and would work jointly with partners to organize logistics around what is needed to resettle successfully in those areas. Equally, for those who cannot go back to their areas of residence, we have spoken to authorities in states where IDPs camps are located to set aside land to resettle them. I must add that this land, when designated, must be allocated to IDPs and IDPs only,” Kiir is quoted to have said on the Presidential press unit Facebook page.

He said these remarks while meeting representatives of IDPs and refugee from various camps across the country at Freedom Hall in Juba.

Kiir assured them of security while calling on the international partners to support the government in reintegrating returnees back to their areas of origin.

The President’s session with IDPs was organized under the theme: Forgiveness, Reconciliation, Peace and Resettlement aimed at promoting the spirit of unity amongst the people of South Sudan.

He also called for the repatriation of refugees back to the country.

“We know that about 2.3 million of our people still live in refugee camps in neighboring countries. With peace implementation moving towards the final phase where elections will end the transitional period, repatriating our people from the camps in neighboring countries should top our agenda,” Kiir said.

The leaders and representatives of IDPs and refugees reaffirmed their full support and commitment towards the implementation of revitalized peace agreement, calling on the government to provide them land to resettle and other basic needs such as water, food and health services.