Street in Wau town, WBGs. (Photo" Social media).

Five states and the three administrative areas rejected violence and looting targeting Sudanese-owned shops on Thursday, while incidents were recorded in other areas, the interior ministry disclosed.

A number of Sudanese-owned shops in markets in Juba and Aweil were attacked by angry youth between Thursday and Friday in an apparent reprisal for the reported killing of South Sudanese citizens in Sudan’s Al-Jazira state.

Calm has since returned to Juba although many businesses remain closed on Saturday – amid a dusk to dawn curfew aimed at limiting late gatherings that contributed to the night-time thefts.

In a press conference, Minister Anjelina Teny said the stable areas include Eastern and Western Equatoria, Unity, Lakes, Jonglei, Pibor, Abyei, and Ruweng administrative areas.

Ms. Teny said those states and administrative areas did not report looting or violence.

“The situation in Eastern and Western Equatoria is completely calm. The police have not recorded any incident of assault or theft,” she explained to the media.

She said people are going about their businesses as usual and markets are operational.

“In Lakes State, the situation is also calm and completely peaceful. The markets are operating and there have been no incidents recorded. In Jonglei State, as well as in Pibor and Ruweng Administrative Areas and Unity State, the situation is calm and no problems have occurred.”

Angelina said in Upper Nile State, there were no problems except for minor incidents at the internally displaced persons camp where some shops owned by Sudanese were looted.

However, incidents were recorded in Central Equatoria, Northern and Western Bahr el Ghazal, Upper Nile, and Warrap states.

“In Warrap, some theft occurred in Kuajok, but the situation is calming down. In Western Bahr el Ghazal State, there were thefts in Hajar Market.”

She narrated that in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, civil unrest put pressure on the police forces in Aweil and Gok Machar, and some thefts occurred, although the situation was brought under control.

“In Central Equatoria, there is calm outside the capital, Juba, but incidents were recorded inside the city, starting in the markets on the outskirts of the city. There were theft and chaos, but the situation was brought under control.”