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Sudanese attacked in South Sudan after Wad Madani violence

At least three reported killed by police in arson and retaliatory assaults on Sudanese business and refugees, leading to emergency measures
In this file photo, a South Sudanese soldier monitors the area as troops belonging to the South Sudanese Unified Forces take part in a deployment ceremony at the Luri Military Training Centre in Juba on 15 November 2023 (AFP)
A south Sudanese soldier monitors area as troops belonging to South Sudanese Unified Forces take part in a deployment ceremony at the Luri Military Training Centre in Juba, on 15 November 2023 (File photo/AFP)
By Okech Francis in Juba

South Sudan imposed a curfew overnight on Friday after Sudanese businesses and refugees in several urban centres, including the capital, Juba, were subjected to retaliatory attacks linked to the deaths of South Sudanese people in Sudan earlier in the week.

At least three South Sudanese men have been killed while security forces attempted to disperse the attackers, a police spokesman told Middle East Eye.

The attacks followed the alleged killing of 29 South Sudanese people by Sudan's army or allied groups during the capture of Wad Madani city from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Machete and club-wielding young men began the attacks on the evening of 16 January across several parts of Juba, including Hai Thoura, Gumbo Sherikat, Hai Jebel, Mia Saba, Hai Referendum, and Gudele suburbs, among others, breaking into shops belonging to Sudanese, entering their homes and beating them up. The youths said the attacks were retaliation for the violence in Wad Madani.

The nightlong attacks also occurred in other towns, including in Aweil of Northern Bahr el-Ghazal, which is host to Sudanese refugees in Wadwiel refugee camp, and Kuacjok, the capital of Warrap State.

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To deter “criminals” from taking advantage of the situation, all shops and food stalls have been ordered to close from 6pm to 6am, South Sudan’s police inspector general, Abraham Manyuat, said on Friday.

Police “are responsible for public order and public health and the public have the freedom to move and to work, they can do whatever they want. However, we will take additional measures. For example, we should be ready to close work at 6pm,” Manyuat said.

“For the pharmacies and small markets in the suburbs, they will remain open all 24 hours so that people can access services, but the main markets and warehouses and stores will remain closed to protect them from criminals who might want to loot and or burn them."

The attacks left three people dead and seven others wounded in Juba, police spokesman John Kassara Koang Nhial said in a statement on Friday.

The unrest was “carried out by an unidentified group of South Sudanese in Juba especially in Gudele One, Gudele Two, Mangateen, Jebel Dinka, Jaborona, New Site, and the Nyakuron residential areas and the incident resulted into shooting and injury of seven people and three persons killed”, Nhial said.

“Meanwhile, shops were looted [and] the victims were admitted at Juba teaching hospital for medical treatment,” he said.

Nhial said the motive behind the unrest in Juba and Awiel "is related to the killing of innocent South Sudanese citizens in Wad Madani by the Sudanese Armed Forces".

“However, the police managed to rescue 45 Sudanese traders in Juba, and they are now in the police premises,” he said.

Similarly, in Aweil of Northern Bahr el-Ghazal town, protestors burnt three houses belonging to Sudanese, Nhial said.

Following protests, businesses have been ordered to remain closed in Bor town of Jonglei state. Suspicious people or groups of people within businesses will be arrested, and “any resistance faced by the security personnel shall be met with gunshots”, Governor Mahjoub Biel Turuk said. 

The Sudanese foreign ministry, in a statement two days before the attacks, said the issue “will be subject to thorough investigation, and those responsible will face fair justice”.

It noted killings occurred in the Kombo Tayba area of Sudan's Gezirah state, following the liberation of Wad Madani.

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“Strict high-level directives have been issued to security and law enforcement agencies to take all necessary measures to ensure that such incidents are not repeated and to decisively address any early signs of such behaviour, eliminating them at their source,” it said.

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir urged for calm in the country and directed the security apparatus to protect all Sudanese residing in his country.

Kiir called on people “to remain calm and refrain from retaliation”, noting that “it is crucial that we do not allow anger and emotion to cloud our judgement and turn against Sudanese brothers and sisters”.

“Let us protect their properties and businesses. We are hospitable people, it’s our duty to offer support and protection to Sudanese refugees who fled the war in Sudan. Let them find comfort around you,” he said.

However, he castigated the Sudan Armed Forces for the killings in Wad Madani, equating them to "terrorists".

“These inhumane, barbaric killings of innocent South Sudanese civilians allegedly committed by the Sudanese Armed Forces ignite difficult, sad and emotional memories. These heinous acts are unacceptable and are comparable only to terrorism in character,” Kiir said.

The conflict between the Sudanese army and RSF has killed tens of thousands of civilians and displaced more than 12 million since April 2023.

On Friday, UN human rights commissioner Volker Turk said the conflict was taking a "more dangerous turn for civilians" as ethnic-based attacks attributed to the Sudanese national army have been reported in Gezira state amid the offensive on its capital, Wad Madani. 

The US on Thursday sanctioned Sudan army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan over alleged war crimes during the conflict.

His rival Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, the head of the RSF commonly known as Hemeti, has also been sanctioned by the US over atrocities, including alleged genocide.

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