South Sudan imposes curfew amid riots sparked by SAF killings in Sudan

South Sudan has enforced a nationwide curfew starting Friday evening following violent riots in the capital, Juba. The unrest was triggered by reports of South Sudanese civilians allegedly killed by General al-Burhan’s army (SAF) and allied Islamist groups in neighboring Sudan.

In an announcement broadcast on state television, Police Chief Abraham Peter Manyuat confirmed the curfew will run daily from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. until further notice to restore order and prevent further destruction. “The police will not tolerate any violations,” Manyuat warned.

The riots, which erupted on Thursday night, left four people injured in Juba. Protesters in several suburbs targeted shops owned by Sudanese nationals, looting and vandalizing their properties. Some injuries were reportedly caused by bullets and machetes.

On Friday, shops in affected areas remained closed as security forces worked to relocate Sudanese nationals to safer locations, fearing further attacks.

The violence follows accusations that SAF military personnel and allied groups carried out targeted killings of South Sudanese civilians in Wad Madani, located in Sudan’s El Gezira region.

Earlier this week, General al-Burhan’s SAF acknowledged “individual violations” in the region but denied systemic abuses. Human rights organizations have accused the army and its allies of ethnically targeting civilians suspected of supporting the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The escalating tension comes amid a nearly two-year civil war between SAF and the RSF.

In response, South Sudan’s Foreign Ministry summoned Sudan’s ambassador, while President Salva Kiir Mayardit appealed for calm. “It is crucial that we do not let anger cloud our judgment or turn against Sudanese traders and refugees living in our country,” his office said in a statement.

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