JUBA, April 24 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan on Thursday formally protested the mistreatment and forced deportation of its nationals from Egypt, Libya, and Sudan.
Thomas Kenneth Elisapana, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said that South Sudanese citizens, including women, children, students, and the elderly, have been subjected to harassment, arbitrary arrest, and imprisonment before being forcibly returned to South Sudan.
"It has been observed with serious concern that a higher number of South Sudanese, who have been deported to South Sudan so far, were subjected to harassment, arrests, detention, imprisonment and maltreatment, among others," Kenneth told journalists in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.
Kenneth noted that the government has formed a multi-sectoral taskforce to tackle the issue through diplomatic channels.
The task force is mandated to address the forceful deportation of South Sudanese amicably through diplomatic channels, the official said, further calling upon South Sudanese citizens in these countries to be calm and respectful to the laws of those countries. ■
