Cabinet directs Angelina Teny to investigate deadly Mogiri incident

JUBA – South Sudan’s national government on Friday directed the country’s minister of interior, Angelina Teny to investigate the incident that claimed the lives of 22 people along the Juba-Bor road on Wednesday morning.

Cattle traders from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), who were transporting cattle for sale in Mogiri, were attacked just outside the town. At least 22 people, including 12 locals and attackers, were killed.

Speaking to journalists following a weekly cabinet meeting chaired by President Salva Kiir Mayardit in Juba on Friday, Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth said the meeting instructed the former minister of defense to investigate the incident.

“Mogiri Boma of Mangala Payam in Juba along Juba-Bor highway saw the attack on Wednesday,” Makuei said.

“The cabinet listened to the Minister of Interior, Her Excellency, Madam Angelina, on the recent incident in Mogiri. She provided a preliminary report, saying these were Murle traders who were attacked by armed people and suffered significant losses,” Makuei added.

Makuei said that over 20 people lost their lives in the attack, with others wounded, and the attackers escaped with around 500 cattle.

“It is not known who these attackers are, but information reaching us indicates the cattle are being kept around Mangala. As such, the Minister of Interior has directed that these cattle should not be moved and should be apprehended and, if possible, returned to their owners,” he said.

The cabinet instructed Teny to conduct a full investigation and report back to the cabinet once completed.

“On the other hand, the cabinet condemned this act in the strongest terms, as it is a source of insecurity. The Juba-Bor Road should not be subject to constant disruptions, as it was established for the service of the people, not as a means to promote insecurity in the area,” Makuei said.

The cabinet denounced these attacks and called upon the Minister of Interior to investigate and report back to the Council of Ministers with a full account of the incident.