
South Sudanese authorities have confirmed 12 fatalities over two days linked to attacks on Sudanese nationals, despite the enforcement of an overnight curfew.
The unrest began after reports surfaced that 29 South Sudanese citizens were killed in Sudan’s Al-Jazeera state by General al-Burhan’s forces (SAF), sparking protests in Juba, the South Sudanese capital.
Demonstrators targeted businesses owned by Sudanese nationals, leading to widespread looting.
Security forces intervened, opening fire to disperse the crowd, leaving three dead and seven injured.
On Friday, protests spread to Aweil, resulting in the deaths of nine individuals—two South Sudanese and seven Sudanese—according to local authorities.
Despite a nationwide curfew imposed on Friday night, tensions remain high. Police spokesman John Kassara reported Saturday that the situation had calmed, with heavy security deployments ensuring order in Juba. However, Sudanese-owned businesses in the city stayed closed as a precaution.
South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has called for restraint, while authorities continue efforts to protect those at risk. Over 600 Sudanese have taken shelter at South Sudan’s army headquarters, and another 278 individuals, including children, are under police protection in Central Equatoria.
South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, has faced enduring instability. The recent violence is linked to the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. The war has devastated the region, killing tens of thousands, displacing millions, and exacerbating famine conditions.
Authorities have urged for calm as they work to stabilize the situation.