Watchdog condemns deadly attack along Juba-Nimule highway

JUBA — A South Sudan civil society watchdog has condemned yesterday’s attack on Juba Nimule highway in which two people were killed and eleven others were wounded.

In a statement, the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) called on national government authorities to intervene as attacks on highways escalate.

“CEPO strongly condemns the negative development around Juba-Nimule road for the growth of civilians attacks. The growth of armed violence along juba-Nimule road require urgent intervention of the national government on prevention of the armed violence which are related to unresolved pastoralists and farmer frictions,” CEPO said in the statement extended to Sudans Post.

Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director of CEPO said growing attacks against civilians along important and busy highways poses a national security and economic threats and blamed lack of solutions to attacks on civilians.

“Armed violence along juba and Nimule road is absolute national security threat to the economy of the country. Lack of proper solution to the clashes between pastoralists and farmers along the juba and Nimule road will like resulted to real deadly communal violence that many constitute crime against humanity,” Yakani said.

It is the weakness of the central government in directing the concerned states namely centeral Equatoria, eastern Equatoria and jongeli for genuine solutions to the clashes between the pastoralists and the farmers to be blamed. The three states governors should be held responsibility by the national government,” the activist stressed.

CEPO further said it is gravely and “seriously concerned  the lack of support from the central government on management of the armed deadly communal violence across the country. Juba-Nimule roads. Twic-Ngok Dinka, Tonj counties and Jonglei and some parts of Pibor.

“Some state governors like of Lakes, Eastern Equatoria states tried to handle the deadly armed that results to what UNMISS called it decreased of communal violence by 23% in their recent report on communal violence.

“Finally CEPO is urging the national ministry of peace building and the presidency to organize tri-states meeting between central Equatoria-Jongeli-Eastern Equatoria states on resolutions of the pastrolists-farmers armed violence.

“In separate development CEPO condemned the killing of the 5 persons in Tonj East of Warrap state communal violence and killing of the abductees in Duk area of Jongeli state. President tomorrow in his opening speech of the 6th Governors forum should speak to the growing deadly armed violence among the communities across the country.”