{UAH} SOUTH SUDAN: Unusual Troop Movement in Juba Amid Kiir Health Fear

Salva Kiir arrives to register SPLM party on in Juba recently (Photo: Gale Julius/ChimpReports) Dada

By: Kim Aine

 Oct 12,2016 225 ViewedBe The First To Comment

Military deployment has been intensified in the South Sudan Capital Juba amid fears about President Salva Kiir's health.

Despite assurances from the presidency that Gen Kiir is "healthy" and in high spirits, sources told ChimpReports on Wednesday morning that the troop movement in Juba had caused uncertainty.

Our military informers say several commanders today morning rushed to the presidential palace at J1, with some leaving behind their drivers.

Last night, the president's spokesperson Ateng Wek Ateny disputed Kiir's death rumours, saying the president was working normally and without any health challenges.

He further pointed out that in the last few months, the president has not taken even a single tablet to prove that his health was unquestionable.

Kiir, who has for the last few years been struggling with a kidney ailment, was also shown in the television news bidding farewell on an outgoing high ranking official at the JMEC in Juba.

"We would like to inform all our citizens that theinformation which came few hours ago, in various social media that President Salva Kiir has died is yet another wishful thinking," Ateny told South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation.

However, Wednesday morning witnessed unusual heavy deployment of elite military units which are currently patrolling the capital.

Many traders in different parts of Juba chose to keep their shops closed in fear of their safety.

Security has been tightened along the routes leading to the presidential palace as military choppers hovered Juba.

Some presidency officials told this websitethat a "special meeting on the deployment of the regional force is underway at the president's office. There is no cause for alarm."

During the October 5 meeting with South Sudan First Vice President Gen Taban Deng, U.S. National Security Advisor, Susan Rice, "stressed the need for a rapid Deployment of the Regional Protection Force."

However, most Generals including Kiir and Chief of Staff, Gen Paul Malong are opposed to the deployment of a force comprising regional forces to provide more security in the war-torn country.

Malong recently wondered whom the force would protect, saying the country is slowly realizing peace and stability.

The events in Juba come high on the heels of the fleeing of top ranking military general, Bapiny Minytuil.

Bapiny claimed in his resignation letter that Kiir was advised to assassinate Gen Deng in Juba, an allegation government dismissed as baseless and alarmist.

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