A joint security force in Northern Bahr el-Ghazal State on Tuesday recovered assorted items looted by rioters during the violent demonstrations over the killing of South Sudanese in Wad Medani in Sudan’s Al-Jazirah State.
The items included mattresses, maize flour, beds, refrigerators, bags, cooking oil, onions, chairs, and nets.
Addressing the joint security forces at the Aweil Freedom Square, State Governor Simon Ober Mawut thanked them for the recovery as well as maintaining peace in the state.
“The whole world and the citizens of South Sudan and of Northern Bahr el-Ghazal State will know that there are still people with nationalism among us. What happened last week was a big shame to all of us,” Mawut said.
“The blame will come to us for failing to control the angry youth who looted the market and where the organized forces were, and today you have shown that you are present, and thank you.”
Northern Bahr el-Ghazal State Commissioner of Police Maj Gen Basilio Thomas Wani said the search was carried out by joint security forces in various residential areas.
“As you are aware, several items were looted in Aweil market a few days ago, and yesterday, we embarked on a search in various residential areas in an operation by joint security and they recovered these items,” Wani said.
Early this week, gruesome videos circulating on social media of South Sudanese killed in Wad Medani, the capital of Al Jazirah State, raised concern about the safety of thousands who have been stranded in Sudan.
The killings, after the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) took control of Wad Medani from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), sparked violent protests in Juba and other cities in South Sudan on Thursday night and Friday morning.
The protests were met with a heavy police response, leading to arrests, though those detained were later released.
Some Sudanese-owned shops were vandalized and looted, prompting the government to impose a nationwide curfew early Friday.