A local official in Sudan’s White Nile State on Saturday urged security agencies to tighten controls on the entry of foreigners into the border region with South Sudan and prevent the infiltration of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia cells.
Yahya Al-Fadil Ibrahim, the executive director of Al-Jabalain locality in White Nile State, visited the Joda border crossing on Saturday, accompanied by members of the local security committee he heads and the commander of the southern sector, Major General Omar Al-Sir Ali.
In a press statement, Al-Fadil said he instructed authorities to conduct thorough and decisive investigations and checks on incoming foreigners, to track and expose RSF cells attempting to infiltrate through the Joda crossing.
He noted that he had received reports from military intelligence, security forces, and police regarding procedures and arrangements for the entry of foreigners.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported on Wednesday that more than 25,000 refugees from South Sudan had arrived in White Nile State. It noted that many prefer to enter through unofficial points such as Al-Muqaynis and Umm Kuweika due to the strict screening procedures at the Joda crossing.
During their visit to the crossing, Al-Fadil and the southern sector commander inspected the military intelligence headquarters, General Intelligence Service offices, the passport and immigration police, and the administrative police offices at Joda.
Al-Fadil also mentioned that he received a briefing on procedures for the voluntary return of those who had fled from the Angasana region in Blue Nile to South Darfur.
