South Sudan army says one killed, eight injured in road ambush

JUBA – At least one traveler was killed and eight others injured in an ambush on a bus traveling on the Juba-Nimule highway in South Sudan.

The bus, carrying 60 passengers and belonging to Babeto Coach Services, was attacked at Lakarakak between Nyerjebe and Kubi on Tuesday morning as it left Juba for Kampala.

Addressing journalists at a press conference in Juba, army spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai Koang said the attack by National Salvation Front (NAS) rebels left seven civilians and one security personnel seriously injured.

“Based on the information we received from our security forces on the ground, one person was killed, and a total of eight people were injured, including seven civilians and one personnel from the National Security Service,” Lul said.

Lul disclosed that seven passengers were missing and that the attackers had set the bus ablaze.

The military spokesman blamed NAS rebels for attacking the bus, which was transporting people of different nationalities.

“A bus transporting different people from different nationalities, like the deceased who was from Uganda and most of those who are injured, some of whom are Sudanese, so based on that attack it appears that NAS has become a regional threat,” he said.

Lul said the army was considering increasing its forces along the Juba-Nimule highway to conduct robust patrols and prevent further attacks.

“Just before the attack, we received information about their movements around that area and their presence. We were even preparing to strike them,” he said.

“Like I told you, we never expected the NAS to go and attack a mobile target, which is for civilians. So, it was never in our plan. We did not know. We had beefed up our security in our areas and were preparing to strike them,” he said.