Moyo Citizens’ demonstrate over border dispute with South Sudan

One of the issues for West Nile region raised in the Citizens’ Manifesto was border conflicts with neighbouring districts and countries which need to be resolved. The Members of Parliament from the Parliamentary Committee on Presidential and Foreign Affairs went on a fact- finding mission in Moyo District on the border conflicts with South Sudan over an area in Lefori Sub County (Moyo District). The team that included Members of Parliament and Moyo District leaders were held hostage by a local Administrator in Kajo-Keji County (South Sudan) for some hours on 01/03/2012. This particular incidence of detaining the leaders angered the ordinary citizens in Moyo and some were overheard saying “if our leaders can be handled like that, how about we the ordinary citizens”. To express their bitterness, the citizens on Saturday 03/03/2012 took to the streets of Moyo town, blocked the road to Kajo-Keji, attempted to storm the hospital looking for sick Sudanese, attempted to break into shops belonging to Sudanese nationals, burnt tyres and fought running battles with anti –riot police. This caused the Management of Moyo hospital, shops and clinics to remain closed while Police tried to restore order.