South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) soldiers in a parade in Juba, South Sudan- |File Photo|.
The Inspector-General of South Sudan Police, Gen. Abraham Manyuat, said the government is considering imposing a curfew following reports of planned demonstrations and looting of businesses owned by Sudanese nationals, especially in Juba, South Sudan’s capital.
Last night, several shops owned by Sudanese nationals got looted by angry youth following videos surfaced on social media showing some elements of the Sudan Armed Forces killing a group of rounded South Sudanese nationals in Sudan’s Wad-Madani district of Al-Gezira State.
The videos triggered an uproar and wider condemnation, calling on the Sudanese government to take on its primary responsibility to protect expatriates in Sudan, particularly, South Sudanese.
South Sudan army and anti-riot police forces heavily deployed in Juba to avert retaliation and curb looting in the main markets.
“We want to assure you that we will protect all the markets. The police are responsible for protecting civilians and their property. We are committed to ensuring public order at this critical time,” Manyuat stated on the state-owned television, SSBC.
“The Sudanese nations have the freedom of movement and to work. We may impose a curfew effective from 6 pm to discourage those who want to take advantage of this situation to loot at night,” Manyuat emphasized.
Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, the army spokesperson, said the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Paul Nang Majok, has issued a directive to military police to arrest any soldier found loitering in the residential area.
Addressing the public on the SSBC on Friday afternoon, Gen. Koang warned the soldiers against engaging in illegal practices during this difficult time.
President’s Press Secretary, Lily Adhieu called on the citizens to exercise maximum calm and restrain from retaliation and engaging in illegal activities.
She said the government remains committed to addressing the issue diplomatically.
In Jonglei State’s Bar, the government directed the security agencies to maintain law and order following the reports of looting in Marol Market.
The state government directed closure of the market and ordered the citizens to remain in their houses the area is confirmed secure.
“All the residents in Bor Town shall remain in the houses without any movement until the area is confirmed secure. Marol Market and all the shops in residential areas shall remain closed until further directives. Any person or more persons moving suspiciously on the road within Marol Market have to be arrested and any resistance faced by security personnel shall be corresponded with gunshots. The joint operation forces shall maintain the law and order within Bor town and its outskirts,” Governor Mahjoub Biel Turuk stated in a statement.
Abraham Awolich, a member of the People’s Coalition for Civil Action (PSSA), called on the people of South Sudan to stage a nationwide protest against the government, citing its failure to protect the citizens.
Awolic blamed the government for not creating the necessary conditions for the citizens after gaining independence from Sudan in 2011.
He urged the people of South Sudan to direct their anger and frustration on their government, not the innocent Sudanese nationals living in South Sudan.
“PCCA condemns the recent massacre of South Sudanese nationals in Wad Madani; we stand in solidarity with the families, communities, and relatives of the victims of this massacre. We also stand in solidarity with the people of South Sudan as a whole who have been let down by their government to take dangerous journeys to broken countries like Sudan to seek safety and make a living,” Awolic said.
Awolic said it is the constitutional right of every citizen to protest especially when injustice has been committed and when the citizens see that the government is doing what is not right to serve the interest of its citizens, the citizens have a right to protest,” he added.
“We are appealing to the citizens to spare the lives of the Sudanese nationals in South Sudan. They are innocent and they have nothing to do with the actions of the armed militias in their own country. They came to South Sudan just like our people have gone to Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, DRC and maybe to CAR to seek refuge,” stressed.
“They are victims of injustice and failed systems just like us,” he emphasized.
The Deputy Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, Oyet Nathaniel said the attacks on South Sudanese in Wad Madani appear to be systematic, well-planned, sponsored, and sanctioned by the top leadership of the RSF and SAF.
Nathaniel said there were surging cases of extrajudicial killings and human rights violations even among the Sudanese themselves.
He likened the action of the Sudanese army to ISIS-type terrorist operations, saying actions threatened the security of the region and the world at large.
“South Sudan has offered sanctuary for Sudanese of all walks of life, they live peacefully in their second home owning businesses and moving without restrictions. Meanwhile, the Islamist factions in Sudan are busy ordering arrests, extermination, and genocide against foreign citizens of the African race, especially South Sudanese,” Nathaniel said. “The attacks on South Sudanese appear to be systematic, well-planned, sponsored, and sanctioned by the top leadership of the RSF and SAF. We have seen men in uniform of both the RSF and SAF committing the same heinous atrocities; dismembering bodies and slaughtering civilians and chanting, Allah Akbar! and covering the same on camera.”
He demanded a detailed account from the ministry of foreign affairs on how the executive arm of the government was dealing with this situation to ensure that such barbaric acts do not repeat again and that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
In a statement issued earlier yesterday Thursday, Kenya’s President William Ruto described the violence as “unacceptable and inhumane,” urging the leadership of Sudan’s Sovereign Council to take immediate and decisive action. “The killing of innocent civilians is a grave violation of human rights and the principles we stand for as a continent,” Ruto declared.
President Ruto further called on General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the leader of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, to publicly denounce the violence and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice without delay. “The Sudanese leadership must act swiftly to protect civilians and hold perpetrators accountable. Justice cannot wait while lives are being lost,” he added.
