The Government of Central Equatoria State has pledged to bring to justice those responsible for the recent attacks on travelers, including a minister from Jonglei State.
Jonglei State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Nyalella John Chuol’s vehicle was ambushed and fired upon while traveling from Juba to Bor on Sunday morning, 29 September. The incident, which resulted in damage to the vehicle, raised concerns about the security of the highway which has been relatively safe for the past five months.
In a statement on Tuesday, Gerald Francis, the Central Equatoria State Minister of Peacebuilding and Acting Minister of Information and Communication, strongly condemned the criminal attack.
“The Government of Central Equatoria State strongly condemns the recent criminal attacks on travelers along the Juba-Bor Road at Mogiri,” he said. “This weekend incident involved officials from the Jonglei State government who were en route to Bor from Juba. Their vehicle was damaged and the belongings of the occupants were looted.”
The minister emphasized that the attack is viewed as a violation of the law and an attempt to destabilize the relative peace and stability within the state and beyond. He assured the public that the government would work closely with relevant law enforcement agencies to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice and to prevent such incidents in the future.
“The state government reassures the general public of its commitment to maintaining peace and security across the state,” Minister Francis stated and added: “We shall continue to take all necessary steps within our powers to ensure the safety of people and their properties. The road is currently back to its normal operations after the isolated incident that occurred last Sunday.”
He said that the Central Equatoria State Government remains steadfast in its commitment to peace and security under the leadership of Governor Gen. Augustino Jadalla Kamilo Wani. Additionally, the government will continue to work with national and relevant authorities to ensure that the state remains a safe place for all citizens and visitors.
The chairperson of the Jonglei Civil Society Network (JCSN) and Executive Director of Intrepid South Sudan, Bol Deng Bol, on Monday, urged the Jonglei State government to assess the risk levels on the Juba-Bor Road and establish an early warning system to ensure the safety of travelers.