The SPLM-IO faction led by South Sudan’s former vice president Riek Machar says it will conduct a vigorous investigation into the recent killing of innocent civilians on the road between Juba and Yei, while calling on the government to carry out its separate investigations into the incident.

Mabior Garang de Mabior, spokesperson of the SPLM-IO faction, told Radio Tamazuj yesterday that their group does not have a policy of killing civilians and that the movement will conduct its own investigation into these killings.“What happened is bad and we condemn it, and we will investigate the incident,” said Garang.

For his part, Ateny Wek Ateny, South Sudan’s presidential spokesperson, said that a committee headed by the presidential advisor on military affairs Daniel Awet Akot was formed by President Kiir to investigate the incident.

Condemnations continue

Separately, South Sudanese continue to react with grief and anger over reports of the killing of dozens of people on the road between Yei and Juba last week.

Daniel Aboja, Chairperson of the Equatoria Youth Union, condemned the killing of innocent civilians on roadsides in the Equatoria region. Aboja called on local youth to distance themselves from targeting people based on ethnicity.

Federico Vuni, Chairperson of the Equatoria Community in the United Kingdom, condemned the incident and killing of civilians last week. The community leader called on the government to initiate dialogue with communities of the Equatoria region for the sake of peace and stability in the country.