CEPO urges government to hunt down perpetrators of runaway violence against aid workers

JUBA, MARCH 30, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – South Sudan’s civil society watchdog, the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), has welcomed a government apology and condemnation over continued attacks on aid workers in the country.

The minister of humanitarian affairs and disaster management Albino Akol Atak yesterday condemned attacks against aid workers and said they were regrettable as humanitarian aid is lifesaving services for vulnerable communities.

In a statement this afternoon, the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) welcomed the government apology and condemnation and called on the government security agencies to bring to justice those behind the attacks on aid workers.

“Community Empowerment for Progress Organization welcomes the condemnation and the apology of the Hon. Minister and urges the Hon. Minister to ensure accountability is take serious against the perpetrators of the violations,” CEPO said in the statement extended to Sudans Post.

Prominent activist and Executive Director of CEPO Edmund Yakani said attacks on aid workers are unacceptable and urged the government to take critical steps to bring perpetrators top justice and stressed that it is time for the government to resume national humanitarian actors’ forum.

“Attack on the humanitarian works and assets is an unacceptable act and demands act of fostering the government to step up practical and genuine accountability for perpetrators of the violations. The registered attacks against humanitarian workers and assets are getting worse and it is now perpetrated by armed community groups that are harder to hold accountable,” he said.

“It is high time for the Hon. Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management to resume the platform of holding regular National Humanitarian Actors Forum. The forum will act as a space for early warning information sharing and this in return provide opportunity of preventing attacks on humanitarian workers and assets.

“Proactive action is required from the government actors in preventing attacks on humanitarians’ workers and assets across the country,” Yakani stressed.