By William Madouk
Brutal killing of South Sudanese nationals by the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) has ignited outrage among citizens and members of parliament.
Graphic footage circulating online shows defenseless South Sudanese being rounded up, brutally assaulted, and killed, allegedly by the SAF.
By Press time, the exact number of casualties from the heinous attacks remains unknown.
First Deputy Speaker of the National Parliament, Oyet Nathaniel express in a Facebook post that “it was disappointing and shocking that we receive reports, very gruesome reports, of the extermination, targeted killing of our citizens in the Sudan.”
Oyet said citizens of both South Sudan and Sudan have coexisted peacefully since their separation, calling for immediate action.
“Conflict in South Sudan was there from 2013, nobody targeted the Sudanese who are here,” he explained.
“Conflict in the Sudan erupted a year ago. Unfortunately, we have been following with a lot of disappointment that South Sudanese who are in the Sudan are being targeted. They are being targeted on the streets and in their houses,” Oyet added.
First deputy speaker alleged that South Sudanese are being targeted in the areas controlled by Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the areas controlled by the Sudan Armed Forces.
“RSF and Sudan Armed Forces, they bear responsibility of command and control over their forces. Anything happening in the areas of their control, we take it as the responsibility of these factions,” he noted.
He hinted that if leaders of two factions don’t condemn such acts, then it will be considered as a deliberate, sanctioned, systematic, and encouraged by the top leadership.
In his view, non-combatants or civilians, including residences, hospitals, and places of worship, should never be considered military targets in any war.
Mr. Oyet said, “even when you defeat your enemy and capture their combatants, they should not be killed”. Instead, they must be treated as prisoners of war (PoW) in accordance with the Geneva Conventions.
“More proactive arrangements must be made, including evacuation of our citizens from war-torn Sudan,” he added.
Also, students of the University of Juba organized a protest on campus, demanding justice for the South Sudanese citizens who were murdered, and calling for the culprits to be held accountable, as well as for the respect of human rights laws.
Unverified reports indicate that police authorities have detained several peaceful protesters who were demonstrating outside the Sudanese embassy.
The group, made up of both Sudanese and South Sudanese individuals, expressed their concerns over the reported killings of South Sudanese citizens in Sudan.
When contacted, the police spokesperson stated that he had not received any reports regarding the incident.
Additionally, a civil society activist urged international and regional organizations to hold the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) accountable for the killings of innocent South Sudanese citizens in Sudan’s Gezira State.
Ter Manyang Gatwech, Executive Director of the Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), condemned the killing of the South Sudanese, saying it is unacceptable under international law.
The Refugees Rights Watch South Sudan also condemned the act and asked the government of Sudan to fulfil its human rights obligation by protecting South Sudanese refugees amid surge of grave violations.
In response, the Sudanese Embassy in Juba said a committee has been formed to investigate the killings to bring the perpetrators to account.
In a joint press conference Wednesday, Sudanese envoy to Juba, Amb. Lt-Gen Isam Mohamed Hassan Karrar reiterated Sudanese government’s commitment to international human right laws.
“The committee has commenced their work since yesterday and I am here to inform the undersecretary of steps and measures that the Sudan government has taken,” he stressed.
For his part, the undersecretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. John Samuel said he summoned the Sudanese envoy in order to get questions and understand what transpired in Wad Madani.
Amb. Samuel urged the citizens to remain calm and allow investigation to finish. He also urged South Sudanese in Sudan to remain vigilant, avoid unnecessary movement and remain indoors.