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Escalating Tensions in South Sudan Amid Attacks on Sudanese Nationals
In the wake of recent violence targeting businesses and homes owned by Sudanese individuals, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has issued a call for calm, urging citizens to refrain from taking matters into their own hands. This appeal follows a series of confrontations in the capital city of Juba and the north-western town of Aweil, which resulted in the deaths of three individuals and injuries to seven others, according to local police reports.
Authorities in Aweil reported that several properties belonging to Sudanese nationals were set ablaze during the unrest. In an effort to curb the escalating violence, a curfew has been instituted, prohibiting movement between the hours of 18:00 and 06:00 local time. Insp Gen Abraham Manyuat Peter emphasized this measure aims to protect both public and private property.
In response to growing hostilities, police managed to rescue 45 Sudanese traders seeking shelter in Juba, who are now under protective custody at a local police station. This assistance highlights the precarious situation in which many Sudanese residents find themselves amidst escalating tensions.
South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011 after a prolonged civil conflict, yet it now faces a new challenge as an influx of Sudanese refugees seek safety from the renewed violence in their own country. Since the outbreak of conflict in Sudan in April 2023, the humanitarian situation there has deteriorated significantly, with the United Nations estimating that around 25 million people, half of Sudan’s population, urgently require food and aid.
Recent reports from Sudan have raised grave concerns, including footage suggesting the involvement of local soldiers in the killings of South Sudanese civilians in Wad Madani, the capital of Gezira State. Rights groups indicated that at least 13 people were killed in these incidents, many of whom were targeted due to their ethnic background. The Sudanese army has since announced an investigation into these allegations.
Long-standing racial tensions remain a critical issue in Sudan, with darker-skinned individuals frequently facing discrimination and violence from lighter-skinned Arab groups. Such targeted attacks have roots in a history of conflict, underscored by reports of slave raids and ethnic cleansing that persisted until the conclusion of the Sudanese civil war in 2005.
The harrowing visuals of violence against South Sudanese civilians have sparked outrage within the South Sudanese community at home and abroad. In response to these events, a surge of anger has led to violent reprisals in South Sudan, with groups of young men attacking Sudanese-owned establishments in Juba and other regions.
Throughout the night, gunfire reverberated as security personnel sought to restore order. Witnesses noted a chaotic scene in Juba’s Atlabara neighborhood, where youths were seen fleeing from police chasing them down Tambura road, one of the busiest thoroughfares in the city.
In light of the unrest, many businesses in Juba—including the largest market, Konyo Konyo—remained shuttered as a precaution. Local bakeries reported a steep increase in bread prices, rising by as much as 17% due to the disruption. Police presence has intensified in various neighborhoods, working to safeguard Sudanese residents and their properties amid ongoing tension.
In Wau, South Sudan’s second-largest city, reports indicated that outraged crowds targeted a popular market known as Souk Jaw, home to numerous Sudanese businesses. Eyewitness accounts revealed attempts to loot these establishments were met with police intervention, who discharged live bullets into the air to disperse the crowds.
Simultaneously, spontaneous demonstrations surfaced in Tonj, the home region of President Kiir, as public sentiments ran high. It remains to be seen how the South Sudanese government will navigate this crisis and address both the humanitarian challenges posed by the influx of Sudanese refugees and the rising internal tensions that threaten stability.
The BBC has noted that they could not independently verify all claims of violence and looting outside of Juba, highlighting the difficulty in assessing the full scope of the situation amidst this chaotic environment.
Source
www.bbc.com