Governor John Kong Nyuon has condemned the attack on the UN peacekeeping base in Bor yesterday in which 60 or more people were killed. He also offers condolences to the families of the victims.
Armed Dinka youth, some of them wearing uniforms, marched to the UN base on the outskirts of the Jonglei capital on Thursday. They overran the base perimeter and opened fire on unarmed women, children and men inside the base, before UN peacekeepers drove them off.
The victims were part of a community of 5,000 ethnic Nuers who have been trapped in the base since December and January, after killings carried out in Bor.
Jonglei’s governor made the following remarks today offering his own explanation of what happened and conveying “heartfelt condolences to the families, relatives and friends of the victims.”
Speech by John Kong Nyuon:
At around 9:00 a.m. April 17, 2014, the youth in Bor town and surrounding villages mobilized themselves and gathered in Marol 1 market and were shooting randomly in the air. Upon learning about the shooting I called the police commissioner to check what was happening. He confirmed that rude youths were demonstrating shooting in air, and that they were violent.
Some of youth tried to bully him while he was attempting to stop them from shooting. While the commissioner of police was with them, they started moving towards the government secretariat, governor’s residence, and when they found no one they later took the road leading toward airport and UNMISS compound.
While I was at the airport I sent Bor County Commissioner to check and try to stop the youth from advancing but they could not listen to him and they continued moving towards the airport and shooting in the air.
After that I sent Minister of Agriculture Honorable Peter Wal Athieu, Mayor of Bor Municipal Council, and other community leaders, but the minister similiarly confirmed that the youth were violent and could not listen. They claimed that they were going to deliver a petition to UNMISS.
While I was organizing security organs to control the situation, uncontrollable youths rushed and stormed UNMISS compound from the eastern gate, and attacked the IDPs, causing many casualties, 20 killed, 30 seriously wounded and many others with minor injuries, according to the UNMISS state coordinator in Bor.
The rude youths exchanged fire with UMISS forces and their side [the youths] also suffered three losses and fifteen injuries. The government has now deployed forces strategically to prevent further attack on UNMISS compound, and the situation is now calm and under control.
This is an unfortunate situation and we condemn it in the strongest terms possible. On behalf of the people and government of Jonglei State, I convey my heartfelt condolences to the families, relatives and friends of the victims.
Dear citizens of Jonglei State and the people of South Sudan, the attack to UNMISS compound by armed youth is a serious violation of law and order, and we therefore strongly condemn. The state government will surely investigate this incident and take serious measures against those involved in this criminal act.
File photo: Governor John Kong Nyuon
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