By Jacob Onuha Nelson
Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) has called for an end to ongoing targeted ethnic killings in Malakal, Upper Nile State.
In a statement CEPO’s Executive Director, Edmund Yakani said “This is unacceptable, and we urgently need to see an end to these ongoing targeted ethnic killings, which are regrettably fueled by the interests of political leaders, some within political parties and others in uniform.”
He further noted, “We are aware of medical confrontations leading to the silencing and loss of innocent South Sudanese civilians and uniformed personnel in Upper Nile State. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to His Excellency the Governor and every leader holding decision-making power in Upper Nile to de-escalate this ongoing targeted killing and deadly violence.”
“Please be aware that the loss of these innocent citizens’ lives will one day lead to accountability. You may not see it as a problem now, but the blood of these innocent citizens will one day demand justice and accountability,” Yakani stressed.
According to the United Nations (UN), over 180 people have been killed, more than 250 others injured, and an estimated 125,000 displaced in South Sudan since March 2025.
CEPO reiterated its appeal to the Upper Nile authorities to prioritize dialogue as the means to resolve their differences, emphasizing that dialogue remains the most effective option.