Army chief unveils plan for joint fact-finding team on Kajo-Keji killings

JUBA – South Sudan’s army chief, General Santino Deng Wol, has this afternoon unveiled a proposal to form a joint fact-finding committee to investigate last week’s killing of civilians by members of South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), an army spokesman has said.

Last week, seven members of SSPDF division in the area arrested three teenagers of one family after they found dead one of their colleagues who was allegedly drunk the previous night.

The soldiers then shot dead the three men identified as 18 years old Yamba Lominsuk, 16 years old Justin Lisok Lominsuk, and 38 years old Yiga Wani sparking public outcry among activists.

Gruesome images of the soldiers and the victims circulating online could been seen disturbing as soldiers were seen stepping on the dead victims leading to arrest of five of the soldiers, according to Kajo-Keji County authorities.

In a statement this afternoon, South Sudan army spokesman Major General Lul Ruai Koang said the army chief has written to the governor of Central Equatoria state, Emmanuel Adil Anthony, proposing a joint investigation team.

“This brief statement serves to inform members of the public that SSPDF Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Santino Deng Wuol, had written to Hon. Emmanuel Adil Anthony, Governor of Central Equatoria State proposing formation of Joint Facts Finding Committee that would travel to Kajo-Keji investigate circumstances under which three civilians were killed over the weekends,” General Lul said.

According to the statement, the team will comprise members from South Sudan People’s Defense Forces’ Directorate of Military Intelligence, Internal Security Bureau of the National Security Service, the national police service and the government of central Equatoria state.