![Scene of the attempted robbery at South Sudan central bank. [Photo by Sudans Post]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/320449224_726182112269686_3637886430780013772_n.jpg?resize=1024%2C611&quality=89&ssl=1)
The incident caused panic among residents, with reports of heavy gunshots heard across several neighborhoods. The escaped detainees were reportedly involved in violent demonstrations that followed the killing of South Sudanese nationals in Sudan. Authorities have launched an extensive manhunt to recapture those still at large.
Speaking to journalists following the escape, South Sudan Police Spokesperson Colonel John Kassara Nhial said the gunfire was a result of a prison break, with military police firing shots into the air in response. He emphasized that the detainees were being held at the Giada military barracks following their involvement in looting and destruction during the protests.
“Some prisoners who robbed shops during the violent protests in Juba as a result of massacres of South Sudanese by the Sudan Armed Forces in the Madani city of Al Jazira State broke out from the military police detention facility in Giada this morning at 9:30 am,” he said.
Kassara stated that the military police were able to act swiftly in response to the prison break by firing warning shots and initiating pursuit. He said that the detainees, consisting of both civilians and members of organized forces, took advantage of the early morning hours to escape.
“The number was 600 where 550 are civilians and 50 are from the members of organized forces. The military police shot fire on air while pursuing them toward the local market,” he said.
Security forces have since cordoned off the area and increased patrols across the city.
He further revealed that while a significant number of escapees had been recaptured, efforts were ongoing to apprehend those still at large. According to Kassara, the security forces have successfully rearrested most of the escapees but continue to track down the rest.
“During the course of pursuing them the military police managed to re-arrest 410 from the escapees and they are still pursuing the remaining 190 prisoners,” he said.
He urged residents to report any suspicious activity and to cooperate with law enforcement officers.
Witnesses reported hearing gunshots inside the barrack, causing panic among nearby residents. People living in the vicinity fled their homes, fearing an escalation of violence similar to past conflicts in the city.
This is the second time in less than three months that gunfire has rocked South Sudan’s largest city and capital. Many residents expressed concerns over the deteriorating security situation and called for tighter measures to prevent future incidents.
In November, heavy gunfire erupted after the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) moved to detain former director-general of the Internal Security Bureau (ISB) of the National Security Service (NSS), General Akol Koor.
The incident led to widespread speculation about internal tensions within the security apparatus and the gunfire sent shockwaves through the civilian population, triggering fears of large-scale violence reminiscent of the 2013 and 2016 conflicts that plunged the country into civil war.
Many South Sudanese are still haunted by memories of those turbulent periods.
Kassara further said investigations into the circumstances of the prison break are ongoing. Security officials are working to determine whether the escape was facilitated by internal collaborators or if it resulted from a lapse in security protocols.
It was not immediately clear whether the detainees had been tried or were being held on remand, but the authorities have assured the public that those responsible for the security breach will be held accountable.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the SSPDF spokesman referred a reporter to the police. In fact, General Lul Ruai Koang had not spoken to the media regarding the incident at the time of writing. We apologize to both our readers and General Lul Ruai Koang for the error.
