Yei Residents Recount Challenges Accessing National ID Cards

(YEI RIVER COUNTY) – Some residents of Yei River County in Central Equatoria State say they are finding difficulties to access national identification documents from the government’s centralized production center in Juba. They are calling on the county, state and national authorities to consider establishing decentralized production facilities and machines  in rapidly growing towns like Yei. Francis Juma, a resident of Yei Town, said he applied for a national ID card in 2020 but has yet to receive it.

“The issue of national IDs is a big challenge for us ordinary people in Yei. Many people applied for IDs years ago but have not received them. I am calling on the county and state governments, as well as the Ministry of Interior, to consider setting up a production center in major towns like Yei instead of centralizing services in Juba,” he said.

According to Francis, many people in remote villages and Payams of Yei River County find it difficult to travel to Juba to process their ID cards due to high costs of transport, feeding and accommodation. Sebit William, another resident of Yei Town, said he too applied for an ID card in 2022 but has not yet received it. He noted that the lack of access to ID cards has limited opportunities for young people to secure jobs and engage in business activities in the county.

“As I speak, I applied for an ID card in 2022 but have not received it. Even if you visit the immigration office, you will not find it. I am calling on the Ministry of Interior to send production machines to Yei so IDs can be produced locally instead of being processed in Juba. The lack of ID cards has affected us, especially the youth, in accessing jobs and education opportunities,” he said.

Asiki Moses, another resident, said he applied for an ID in 2023 and only received it this year. He is now urging the government to address the delays in issuing ID documents in Yei.

“We face many challenges getting IDs in Yei; it takes a very long time. As residents of Yei, we call on our county government to ensure that printing machines are installed here. We also know that the greater Yei region serves people from Lainya and Morobo counties. Our constitution states that all South Sudanese citizens have the right to obtain national IDs, and we urge the government to act on this matter,” he said.

Last week, officials from the Yei County Immigration Department, led by Captain Philip Kwai, met with the Yei River County Commissioner. They reported that more than 2,500 residents from the greater Yei region have registered to acquire national identity cards this year.

Captain Kwai also appealed to the county administration to allocate a more accessible location for their office, explaining that the current premises in Hai Jamia are not easily visible or accessible to many residents.

For his part, Yei River County Commissioner Samuel Henry Malimbo called on immigration officials to improve their operations and strengthen coordination with the national office in the production of national ID cards and passports for the local population.

According to Malimbo, the immigration unit plays a key role in ensuring that ordinary citizens have access to national identification documents.

He also emphasized the economic importance of the immigration office, noting that its services contribute to government revenue collection.

Malimbo expressed his full commitment to working with both local and national institutions to deliver basic social services to citizens at the grassroots level.