By Classic FM – 18 JAN, 2025
Nine people died on Friday in Aweil town of Northern Bahr El Ghazal State during protests against the killing of South Sudanese in Wad Madani, El Gezira Sate in Sudan, police said on Saturday.
They include 7 Sudanese nationals and two South Sudanese.
Spokesperson of the South Sudan National Police Service, Col. John Kassara Koang Nhial in a briefing over the security situation across the country in the last 24 hours, said angry demostrators also looted properties.
In Juba, Col. Nhial said Criminal Investigative Department( CID) officers rescued 551 Sudanese nationals and evacuated them to safety.
He added that Central Equatoria State police also hosted 243 Sudanese nationals including 35 children.
“On 17 Jan 2025 at around 6:00am, the C.I.D in Juba managed to rescued 551 Sudanese foreign nationals residing in Juba city and they are currently in their premises. Meanwhile 9 people died in Awiel town as a result of violence demonstration carried by an unidentified angry South Sudanese, among these 9 people, 2 were South Sudanese and 7 were Sudanese Foreign Nationals,” he said.
Col. Nhial added, “The unidentified angry demonstrators looted properties in Awiel town market, Awiel East market, Awiel North market, Awiel west market and Awiel East county market and no incident of demonstration registered in Awiel Center county and Awiel South county.”
He said 13 South Sudanese were shot and injured in crossfire during demolitions across Juba. They are currently receiving treatment at Juba Teaching Hospital.
“On the same day [Friday] at around 12:00pm to 5:30pm, the police personnel assigned to Juba teaching hospital managed to register a total number of 13 South Sudanese who were shot and injured in a crossfire in different locations within Juba city during the demonstration and looting of the shops by an angry South Sudanese as a counter-revenge of the killing of innocent South Sudanese in Wad Medani of Gezira State of Sudan by the Sudan Army Force,” said Nhial.
Similarly, in Kuajok town, Warrap State, a teenager, 18, sustained gunshot injury on his left hand as police tried to disperse protesters at Turabyei residential area.
The police spokesperson said 23 shops were looted in Kuajok town, while in Tonj South County, all shops were vandalised and property looted.
In a separate incident, Col. Nhial said a body of unidentified woman was found along the roadside in Gudele block 4 residential area in Juba.
Police are yet to establish the cause of death. The body was transported to Juba funeral home.
He said a criminal case was opened in Gudele police division and an investigation launched.
Col. Nhial noted that calm has returned in many parts of the country that experienced demonstrations on Thursday night and Friday morning.
He assured the public of police protection against any illegal acts.