15 November 2011- To assess what activities UNMISS might perform in Kajo-Keji County, Central Equatoria State, a 17-member mission team headed by State Coordinator Hendrik Bruyn visited the area from 14 to 15 November.

"The purpose of the visit is...to look around and see what work might be needed (by the county) in the context of the new mission," Hendrik Bruyn told Kajo-Keji County Commissioner Muki Batali Buli at his office in Mere.

He stressed that UNMISS would be decentralized, with more of a presence in the county than at state capitals. The mission mandate was focused on peace support and building up capacities of government institutions.

The State Coordinator emphasized that the mission had shrinking support from donor countries due to the global economic recession, adding that donors now contributed less than what they used to offer.

But UNMISS would continue with its endeavors to reach out to counties regularly within its available resources, despite these budget cuts, Mr. Bruyn said.

The team further discussed areas of support to the county, including assistance for war veterans, gender-related support, military demobilization and police training.

Commissioner Buli said he appreciated the visit, revealing that the county had poor road conditions, inadequate detention facilities and low investment.

He also noted that relations between South Sudan and Uganda had soured recently, as Ugandan farmers encroached deeply into South Sudanese territory for settlement.

Mr. Buli identified Gwari, Liteba, Sera Jale, Abaya, Bamurye, Gobor, Bure and Keriwa as villages claimed by Moyo District, northern Uganda. He was shocked to see a surprise visit to these areas by a high-level delegation from the Ugandan government that included the office of the president last September.

He had reported the issue to the state authority in Juba to be reported to the national government for further consideration, Commissioner Buli said.

A 45-year old trader in the area, John Mogga, said that teams of elders from both countries were called to the disputed areas to identify landmarks like streams, mountains, big trees and sometimes songs attached to these landmarks.

In a separate development, Mr. Buli said he appreciated the support of UN Police – of the outgoing mission – to the county in capacity building training and asked the new mission to do the same.

Finally, Mr. Buli asked UNMISS to retain Radio Miraya as it was the only reliable source of information in the county.