Cabinet Minister Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro speaks to the media in Juba. | Photo: FVP Press Unit/Facebook

The Minister of Cabinet Affairs said on Thursday that South Sudan is more secure than several other countries in the region and the continent.

Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro made the statement during an event to mark the International Day of Peace in Juba yesterday.

This was just a week after deadly fighting flared up in Pochalla County of Greater Pibor Administrative Area, where the army unleashed air bombardment against armed local youth reportedly advancing on its position.

The fighting erupted following the killing of a local commander and a woman. It further resulted in the death of 10 people on the side of the armed youth, an army source previously said.

Speaking on the occasion of peaceday on September 21, Dr. Lomuro said the country is currently more secure than many other countries in the continent.

“For those of you in South Sudan, if you sit in Juba, you will feel that South Sudan is the most insecure but let me tell you, you are more secure than many countries in the region and in the continent.”

Dr. Lomuro further said the government is determined to “do away with” ethnic army and militia as well as politicized police.

“We are determined to do away with ethnic army, militia, we are determined to do away with politicized police, army, and national security,” he stated.

According to the cabinet minister, the transitional government will form a national security service and an army that is accountable to the people.

“We will form a national security that belongs to you, the army that you will run to when you are in danger, the police that will protect your house, the police that will be there to give you, your right by observing the law and the constitution.”

“Once we have this section established as a national organization and we deploy them hopefully this month and remove guns, take the other remaining armed groups to cantonments and deploy them and remove guns from citizens, you will be proud of this country.”

But on the contrary, humanitarian reports show that South Sudan is the most dangerous country for be an aid worker.

With 40 attacks on aid workers so far this year, South Sudan has recorded the highest number of attacks against aid workers in the world, according to the 2023 Aid Worker Security Report.

The attacks left 22 aid workers dead and 36 injured.