In a detailed report shared with the media and extended to The City Review, South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS) has revealed the security measures the government undertook to safeguard lives during the violent protests since last Thursday, the casualties and the general security situation in the country.
According to the press statement released by Col. John Kassara, police spokesperson, on January 17 at around 6am, the C.I.D in Juba rescued 551 Sudanese foreign nationals residing in Juba city during the protests and safely secured their return to their premises.
On the same day between 12pm to 5:30pm, security personnel assigned to Juba Teaching Hospital registered 13 South Sudanese who were shot and injured in a crossfire in different locations within Juba City during demonstrations and looting of the shops, which was spearheaded by a group of angry South Sudanese launching a counter-revenge over the killing some South Sudanese in Wad Medani allegedly by the Sudan Armed Forces.
The police report revealed that nine people died in Aweil town as a result of the violent protests, two of which were South Sudanese and seven Sudanese foreign nationals.
The demonstrators looted properties in Awiel town market, Awiel East market, Awiel North market, Awiel west market and Awiel East County market, but no incident was registered in Awiel Center and Awiel South Counties.
Further, the police spokesperson said on January 17 at around 11am, an 18-year-old man was shot and injured on his left hand in a crossfire at Turabyei residential area of Kuajok town, as demonstrators looted 23 shops in Kuajok market. All Sudanese shops in Tonj South County suffered losses from looting.
On the same day in the evening, at around 7:40pm, a dead body of unidentified woman was found on the roadside at Gudele block 4 residential area. The body was transported to Juba Funeral Home, and a criminal case was opened at Gudele Police Station and investigations are ongoing. However, the cause of death is yet to be established.
To safeguard lives from the violent demonstrations, the report says Central Equatoria State police hosted 278 Sudanese foreign nationals, 243 of which were adults and 35 children.
However, the police spokesperson, in a statement shared with this publication yesterday (on Sunday) affirmed that the general situation across the country in the last 24 hours was relatively calm and normal and no demonstrations had been reported in the states and administrative areas during the period.
Col. Kassara also said some of the Sudanese who had been hosted in the police premises within Juba returned to their houses yesterday (on Sunday) due to the calming of the situation within the residential areas and more were expected to return to their homes.
He assured the public that the police would continue to fulfill its duty by protecting all persons against illegal acts with the ‘highest degree of responsibility.’
Security personnel assigned to Juba Teaching Hospital registered 13 South Sudanese who were shot and injured in a crossfire in different locations within Juba City during demonstrations and looting of the shops.
