A South Sudanese activist has raised an alarm over poor working conditions at the Nimule Immigration Department’s offices.

Edmond Yakani, the Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) said the sorry state of affairs at the immigration office hurts South Sudan’s image.  

Yakani described the working condition in Nimule as “totally stressful” adding that officers are a demoralized lot. “Conditions of the office buildings, computers, cleanliness of the office, information and records system are generally below the required standards,” he said.

The activist blamed the political leadership, the Directorate of Immigration in the National Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Finance Planning and others for the sorry state of affairs at the immigration offices.

He said individuals concerned, have deliberately ignored the significant role of the immigration offices by failing to ensure working conditions meet required standards of operations.

Yakani said the officers at the Nimule Immigration offices were committed to their work but were derailed by the “stressful and poor conditions.”

“The revenue generated from Nimule border is enough to fix the mess and improve the working conditions for officers. It is disturbing to see our Nimule border post immigration office building not projecting the good image for the country,” said Yakani.

He added that an immigration office at any country’s border entry point portrays the image of the country because they are the first stop shops.

“The conditions of the immigration office building, working materials/equipment and human resources conditions require immediate attention and intervention from the leadership in Juba,” Yakani stated.

He appealed to President Salva Kiir to urgently intervene in the situation at the Nimule Immigration offices.

“The Minister for Interior, Police Inspector General (IGP) and Director of Immigration should all urgently visit and see for themselves the working conditions of the immigration officers,” he said.

The activist also asked members of the national parliament who are currently on recess to visit Nimule immigration office as a priority to understand the conditions at the border post.