{{The South Sudan Government wants an explanation from the United Nations relating to last week’s impounding of weapons allegedly destined for rebels in Lakes State.}}
The weapons were allegedly loaded on 13 trucks and disguised as construction materials for the UN (UNMISS) mission’s Ghanaian contingent in the oil-rich Unity State.
The government said that the privately owned vehicles belonging to different companies based in Juba were being held in Lakes State capital, Rumbek, and another unspecified number had also been detained beyond Rumbek.
“Three of the 13 detained semi-trailer vehicles each carrying two 20-feet containers were searched and a number of firearms and ammunition were recovered,” according to a statement on the government website on Monday.
“The samples of the arms as were being ‘identified’ by military personnel included; Rocket Propel Grenade (RPF) launchers, AK24, Gim files, Anti Riot guns, Binoculars [Ances-6 Trilium night bino], radio systems, Bayonets’ Anti-Personal Landlines among others,” it added.
Information minister Michael Makuei Lueth said the weapons could have been destined to Dr Riek Machar rebels, casting further doubts on the neutrality of the mission in the South Sudan conflict.
The mission was previously accused of sheltering Dr Machar from eminent arrest after a failed December 15 coup in Juba, and later hosting him at its camp in Bor in Jonglei State.
Impounded vehicles
However, the UN mission said the weapons were being delivered to its contingent of the Ghanaian peacekeepers, but admitted that the cargo was wrongly labelled.
“In connection with the transport of cargo of general goods belonging to the Ghanaian battalion on its way to Bentiu, several containers were wrongly labelled and inadvertently contained weapons and ammunition,” UNMISS said in an earlier statement.
“This is regrettable. The Ghanaian troops are part of the surge of UNMISS troops to assist South Sudan and the goods were en route to Bentiu, passing through Rumbek,” it added.
However, the government said just admitting it as an error was not enough.
“It is not enough that the South Sudan UN representative the other day issued a statement and admitted it was a mistake and called it an error; in security situations like this, we will not say ok, if it was a mistake, it is fine …some people must answer,” Mr Makuei said.
“Despite all waybills of the 13 impounded vehicles indicating Bentiu as the last destination of delivery; varying labels could be seen on the containers suggesting that not all the containers were heading to Unity State as indicated in the waybills. Rumbek, Bentiu are some of the labels on the containers,” the government website reported.
The government has been at loggerheads with UNMISS, accusing it supporting rebels since Dr Machar rebelled following the failed coup.
NMG
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