White Nile state’s governor Yusuf Ahmed Nur confirmed the deadline of May 5 for South Sudanese returnees stranded at Kosti to leave the area or face deportation.

In a press statement the governor said the presence of South Sudanese citizens poses a security threat to citizens and the environment.

He also said South Sudan has not complied with obligations to transport the returnees since they arrived to the area in December 2010.

Around 12,000 people are thought to be stranded at Kosti.