South Sudan has imposed a nationwide curfew following deadly riots sparked by allegations that Sudanese forces killed South Sudanese citizens in Wad Madani, Sudan. The unrest, which primarily targeted Sudanese-owned businesses in the South Sudanese capital of Juba, has left at least three people dead and seven others injured. The violence spread to Aweil, a town near the Sudanese border, where three houses were burned by rioters.
The riots were reportedly triggered by accusations that Sudanese military forces, supported by allied groups, killed South Sudanese nationals during the recent recapture of Wad Madani from the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The Sudanese army has condemned these killings, calling them “individual violations,” but the South Sudanese government has expressed outrage over what they describe as ethnically targeted violence against their citizens.
In response to the escalating unrest, South Sudan’s government has imposed a curfew, effective from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily, with police chief Abraham Peter Manyuat announcing that any violations would not be tolerated. Security forces are now working to relocate Sudanese residents to safety, including Sudanese traders and refugees, who have been directly impacted by the riots. Many of them are being moved to secure areas across the country.
The violence has led to heightened tensions between South Sudan and Sudan, both of which have been deeply affected by the ongoing conflict in Sudan. South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has called for calm, urging citizens to not let anger turn against Sudanese nationals living in South Sudan. In a televised statement, he emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and order, calling for accountability without further violence.
The South Sudanese government also summoned Sudan’s ambassador to express its condemnation of the killings and to demand accountability. While the Sudanese army has acknowledged the killing of South Sudanese nationals, it stressed that these were isolated acts by individual soldiers, and has vowed to investigate.
The unrest and subsequent curfew have added to the already strained relations between the two countries. South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, has faced its internal challenges, including conflict and displacement. The ongoing situation in Sudan, exacerbated by the nearly two-year-long conflict between Sudan’s military and the RSF, has had a direct impact on South Sudan, with thousands of Sudanese fleeing the violence into neighboring countries.
The curfew is expected to remain in effect until the situation stabilizes, with South Sudanese authorities monitoring the impact on security and social unrest.
