The governor of Yei River State, David Lokonga, is calling for deployment of the police rather than the army in civilian areas in the state.

A statement by the UN says it has received reports of targeted attacks on civilians by soldiers there since July.

These attacks have led to looting of property, displacement of over 100, 000 civilians, and an unfolding humanitarian crisis due to closure of roads.

Civilians in Yei have also accused the army of carrying out arbitrary arrests.

Governor David Lokonga says there is a need to build trust between the army and the civil population.

He told a rally attended by senior Presidential advisors on Monday in Yei town that only the police should be left to deal with the civilians.

“The army should defend this country from external aggressions, like when someone is interested in invading the country,” the governor argued.

“The protection of the civilians should be handed over to the police to protect [them] so that we don’t have these problems.”

The Presidential Advisor on Military Affairs told the gathering that he would forward the recommendation to the President.

UNMISS has called on the authorities to grant immediate and unrestricted access to humanitarian actors in Yei, and work together for the good of the people of South Sudan.