SSPDF soldiers set for a peacekeeping mission in the eastern DRC. (Photo: File).

South Sudan Minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs has requested a Council of Ministers meeting to approve the allocation of land for army barracks far away from the civilian population in the states and administrative areas.

Lt. General Chol Thon Balok said an army should not be mingling with civilians in towns and cities, but that it should be based in remote locations where it can protect the country.

Information Minister Michael Makuei, who briefed journalists after the cabinet meeting chaired by President Kiir, said the request was “respected” and approved.

“The army has no land; the minister of defense requested the cabinet to approve the issuing of land so the army can keep in distance from the civil population,” Makuei said. “All over the world, there is no way you find the civil population mingling with the army but here in South Sudan they are in the same place.”

He said the defense minister was directed to establish contact with state and administrative areas authorities “so that they could provide the necessary land away from the civil population.”

“This will enable them to control the river Nile and the mountains so if all this is done the army will be in a passion about controlling all these areas.”