By Deng Ghai Deng
Central Equatoria State has pledged to bring to justice those responsible for the recent attack on travelers, including a minister from Jonglei State.
The Jonglei State minister of parliamentary affairs, Nyalele John Chuol’s vehicle was ambushed and fired upon while travelling from Juba to Bor on Sunday morning, 29 September.
The incident, which resulted in damage to the vehicle, raised concerns about the security of the highway, which has been relatively safe for the past five months.
In a statement on Tuesday, Gerald Francis, the Minister of Peacebuilding and Acting Minister of Information and Communication, strongly condemned the criminal attack.
“The Movement of Central Equatoria State strongly condemns the recent criminal attack on travelers along the Juba-Bor road at Mogiri,” Francis said.
“This weekend incident involved officials from the Jonglei State government who were en route to Bor from Juba. Their vehicle was damaged, and the belongings of the occupants were looted.”
Francis emphasized that the attack is viewed as a violation of the law and an attempt to destabilize the relative peace and stability within the state and beyond. He assured the public that the government would work closely with relevant law enforcement agencies to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice and to prevent such incidents in the future.
“The state government reassures the general public of its commitment to maintaining peace and security across the state,” Francis added.
“We shall continue to take all necessary steps within our powers to ensure the safety of people and their properties. The road is currently back to its normal operations after the isolated incident that occurred last Sunday.”
Francis said the Central Equatoria State government remains steadfast in its commitment to peace and security under the leadership of Governor Gen. Augustino Jadalla Kamilo Wani. Adding the government will continue to work with national and relevant authorities to ensure that the state remains a safe place for all citizens and visitors.
Chairperson of the Jonglei Civil Society Network (JCSN) and Executive Director of Intrepid South Sudan, Bol Deng Bol, had urged the Jonglei State government to assess the risk levels on the Juba-Bor Road and establish an early warning system to ensure the safety of travelers.