President Salva Kiir reacts to Juba killing

JUBA – President Salva Kiir Mayardit has condemned Wednesday’s killing innocent civilians by his nephew who was involved in land disputes with local residents of a neighborhood in the capital Juba.

This comes after members of the public responded with anger to the incident in which Lual Marine, president Salva Kiir’s nephew, opened fire and killed four innocent civilians who refused to evacuate the land.

“The President condemns this in the strongest terms possible, and has directed authorities to investigate the incident and press charges against the perpetrator/s immediately,” the office of the president said in a statement seen by Sudans Post.

The statement which said that the situation was “under control” dismissed social media reports that the culprit is president Salva Kiir Mayardit’s son saying he was only a “distance relative and said the  “security organs are now stationed in the crime scene.”

“The perpetrator has been apprehended by authorities and is under close monitor in hospital, in a critical condition. It is unclear whether he was injured during the incident or after his arrest.

“The killings of five people, 4 (four) men and 1 (one) woman is a very serious criminal act the perpetrator (s) must be punished. Our sympathy to the families of the victims. In the same note, the Office of the President hereby categorically denies the allegations circulated in the social media by some individuals that the apprehended suspect is a son to President Salva Kiir Mayardit.

“In fact, he is a distance relative of the President, but he was acting alone. The suspect is called Lual Akook Wol Kiir- a distance cousin to the President. President Kiir’s son is called Lual Salva Kiir Mayardit who wasn’t involved in the incident.

“The incident would be investigated and public will be informed of the outcome through the court of law. The President of the Republic, urges restraint from the families/ community of the victims.”