Yei town, South Sudan (Photo: © RFI/Sheila Ponnie)

Yei County Commissioner in Central Equatoria State said the area is “ninety percent” safe and economically viable as activities of the hold groups including the National Salvation Front have subsided.

Aggrey Cyrus Kanyikwa, who spoke to the media upon meeting Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony, said all the rural markets are operational and the highway leading to DR Congo is functional.

“In our security situation, I would want to declare that our security situation in Yei is 90% safe. We have reduced the activities of the National Salvation Front,” he said.

He also said there has been significant progress in the return of refugees to the area from the neighboring Uganda and DRC.

Mr. Cyrus added that the returnees have been voluntarily resettling and reintegrating into their respective places of origin.

“For this reason, I want to assure that Yei River County is safe and secure economically. I also briefed the governor on the markets that we have. All our rural markets are operational, and functioning.”

“We have the road to DRC Congo is open. The market in Libogo is open, it is functioning and the market of Umbasi is also open. Where every market day we have disco dances in the place.”

Commissioner Cyprus said Governor Emmanuel Adil directed him to sustain efforts to restore peace and stability in the county while pledging to propel development of the area.

Yei River County was largely spared from the conflict that erupted in December 2013, but the security situation rapidly deteriorated after renewed conflict broke out in Juba, in July 2016.

Even after the 2018 peace deal, violence between government forces and the National Salvation Front became unbearable for the civil population, forcing them into refugees’ camps in neighboring Uganda and DRC.