Police fired shots in the air on Thursday night to disperse young people matching the streets. (Photo: Social media).
A civil society activist has condemned what he calls unlawful acts of violence targeting Sudanese traders and shops across South Sudan following the recent youth-led unrest.
Edmund Yakani – Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization – appeals to South Sudanese citizens to cease looting Sudanese-owned shops and refraining from targeting Sudanese individuals.
Yakani equally condemns the brutal treatment of South Sudanese citizens in Sudan’s Al-Jazeera state, allegedly by Sudanese armed forces.
He urged South Sudanese not to retaliate in the same manner, and instead calls for peaceful ways of resolving the matter.
“I strongly condemn the unlawful acts against the traders of Sudan in Juba and across South Sudan by some South Sudanese,” the activist said.
“I would like to appeal to South Sudanese that besides the inhuman and degrading and human rights violations that were committed against our refugees in Wad Madani, in Sudan, we can’t respond in the same manner they did or we should not act unlawfully in demanding accountability.”
“If you listen to my voice South Sudanese, I’m appealing to you please stop looting the shops of Sudanese traders and sometimes even you may loot shops of South Sudanese because you don’t know which one belong to.”
Yakani also appeals to President Salva Kiir to address the nation, stressing that the government’s silence on the issue had contributed to the unrest.
“I would like to appeal to H.E. President Salva Kiir that we want to hear your voice because the silence of the government in the matter of not coming out publicly and addressing South Sudanese have aided some of people to take the law into their hands.”
“We are aware that some of the people who are carrying out the looting might have criminal minds. We value the lives of our own that were beheaded in Sudan but would like his excellency president to come out and address the nation publicly with strong words.”
“The statement that we have seen from the minister of foreign affairs holds water but the language that was used in the statement has not encouraged us because we have never seen the word of condemnation.”
Yakani further called for a stronger official condemnation from the South Sudanese government and urged the cabinet to prioritize the safety of refugees and the security of Sudanese citizens in South Sudan.
The activist appealed for the leadership of both South Sudan and Sudan to take strong, decisive action to ensure the safety and security of their citizens.
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