Kiir orders investigation, prosecution of Kajo-keji county killers

JUBA, FEBRUARY 8^TH 2023 (SUDANS POST) – President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Wednesday afternoon ordered law enforcement agencies to probe, arrest and bring to justice the attackers who killed 27 civilians in Kajo-Keji County of Central Equatoria State.

On 1^st February 2023, suspected rebels belonging to the National Salvation Front (NAS) led by General Thomas Cirilo Swaka attacked Jonglei state cattle herders in Kajo-keji killing at least six of them.

The herders responded, but by attacking villagers killing 21 innocent civilians. The killing took place on February 2, 2023, just a day before Pope Francis arrived in the country for a three-day peace mission in which he called on South Sudanese to forgive each other.

President Kiir in a press statement issued on Wednesday regretfully said there is no justifiable explanation for the murders of civilian in Kajo-Keji County.

“There is no justifiable explanation for this uncalled violence at the time when the leaders of the two communities have initiated processes of returning to their areas of origin,” Kiir said in a statement.

Kiir directed both the authorities of Jonglei and Central Equatoria to swiftly ensure smooth facilitation of herders’ relocation to their places of origin to end senseless bloodshed.

“It is on this basis that I strongly condemn the action of perpetrators of these crimes, and urgently direct law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate what took place in Kajo-Keji.”

Kiir ordered law enforcement agencies to expedite the investigation and prosecution of those behind killing of 27 civilians.

“These investigations must not amount to anything; they must aim at holding the instigators and perpetrators of these heinous crimes accountable for their actions.”

He appealed to the affected communities to be patient and wait for the outcome of the investigation.

“I am fully aware of how hard it is to cope with tragedies of this nature but I urge you to remain calm and give the authorities’ time to resolve both the root causes of this issue as well as using the full force of the law to hold the culprits accountable.”