Governor Adil arrives in Kajo-keji after killings

JUBA, FEBRUARY 6^th 2023 (SUDANS POST) – The governor of South Sudan’s Central Equatoria state Emmanuel Adil Anthony this morning arrived in Kajo-keji County where 27 people died last week amid in separate attacks.

On the eve of Pope Francis’ visit to the country, suspected rebel forces belonging to the National Salvation Front (NAS) led by General Thomas Cirilo Swaka attacked a cattle camp belonging to the Bor community killing at least six people.

Armed Bor community youth responded, but instead attacked villagers at Lire Payam killing at least 21 people.

In a statement, the office of Central Equatoria Governor said Adil has landed in Kajo-keji county where he visited the mass grave of the victims of the Thursday attack and called for calm among the civil population there.

“The Governor of Central Equatoria State and his accompanying delegation safely arrived in Kajo-Keji County following the horrific massacre of the innocent civilians by the Dinka Bor armed cattle herders,” the governor’s office said in the statement.

According to the statement, Governor Adil “shared words of comfort and encouragement to the people to remained strong in their faith regardless of the incident and assured them of the sustained Government’s efforts to reinforce the immediate return of the cattle herders into their places of origin before he returns to the State’s general headquarters.”

The governor was accompanied by senior government officials including the gubernatorial advisor for security affairs, head of human rights commission, minister of local government and law enforcement, and the minister of finance.