Civil Society group condemns Juba shooting, urges for peace
By Emmanuel Mandella
The South Sudan Civil Society Forum (SSCSF) has strongly condemned the Thursday’s shooting in Juba and called for transparency, and swift action to prevent further escalation.
The activists highlighted the deep scars of past conflicts and warned against the potentially devastating consequences of internal divisions spilling into widespread violence.
In a statement released yesterday, the group underscored the urgency of maintaining peace and urged all stakeholders to act responsibly.
“The people of South Sudan have endured enough. We cannot afford another conflict. We call on leaders to exercise maximum restraint and resolve disputes diplomatically,” the statement read in part
The forum also called on citizens to resist misinformation and propaganda that could exacerbate the situation.
“Now is the time for credible information and collective responsibility.”
This recent incident has highlighted the fragile state of South Sudan’s political and military cohesion. Past disputes among the elite have often cascaded into national crises, with devastating effects on civilians, particularly women and children.
Meanwhile, a local resident of Juba, Mary Simon, expressed her concerns stating that, “This isn’t just about the elites. Whenever they fight, we, the ordinary people, suffer the most. We need peace, not more gunfire.”
The SSCSF and other civil society groups have pledged to work tirelessly in promoting dialogue and stability. They also urged international partners to support efforts toward peace and ensure accountability for any actions that threaten national unity.
“We owe it to ourselves and the next generation to prioritize peace and stability,” the statement concluded.
The sentiments came as the Secretary General of the ruling SPLM party, confirmed to this writer that the government had defused a tense standoff with former spy chief Gen. Akol Koor Kuc, following a dramatic gunfire exchange that shook the Thongping neighborhood on Thursday evening.
The standoff, marked by an hour of gunfire near the Nimule Resort Hotel, ended with Gen. Akol Koor being peacefully relocated from his residence in Thongping to a new home in the Jebel suburb, according to Peter Lam Both, Secretary General of the ruling SPLM party.
“I want to inform the public that the standoff between Gen. Akol Koor and the government is now resolved peacefully,” Lam told The City Review.
“Gen. Akol has been relocated to his home with his family without any issues. We thank SPLM Chairman, President Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, for resolving this situation without further escalation.”
The relocation decision came after high-level negotiations aimed at reducing tensions in the heavily secured Thongping area, which hosts numerous foreign embassies and missions.
