10 killed along Juba-Yei Road, including 3 Ugandan drivers, NAS denies

Gunmen killed 10 people in two separate incidents on the same along the Yei – Juba road. Four commuters including three drivers were killed Sunday while traveling on the Juba-Yei Road and six more travelers were killed by unknown gunmen on Monday.

Yei County police commissioner Major General Yuasa Lujang Kamba said the three traveling from Uganda were close to Gogorju Hill when they were attacked.

“Four gunmen appeared on the road and stopped them. It’s unfortunate the three vehicles did not stop and the gunmen started actually firing at the three vehicles,” told The Insider.

Viola Editha, a sister of one of the deceased drivers, said the government should protect travelers along the Juba-Yei Road.

“They told me that when they reached that side of Ganji, they entered into an ambush so they were all slaughtered; one of them is my brother called Dada Abugo, the other one is called Ali and the other one is called Amatin, so that makes me unhappy when things are happening here in South Sudan. The government should provide security whenever we are moving,” said Editha.

Editha said her brother leaves behind a daughter and a pregnant wife.

At a Juba news conference Monday, Central Equatoria state officials accused National Salvation Front (NAS) rebels led by Thomas Cirillo of carrying out Sunday’s attack and another deadly attack on Monday.

“Between Limbe and Kenyi in an area called Kimba, they also killed two motorcycle riders and shot one passenger car which was coming from Yei to Juba. The driver managed to drive off and escape the deadly scene. Also in the Ganji stream, the same NAS forces burnt down passenger vehicles and killed four civilians,” said Central Equatoria information minister Paulino Lukudu.

Lukudu said NAS forces also launched attacks in Lasu and Lata of Yei River County last week.

On Tuesday, NAS spokesperson Suba Samuel denied his group is responsible for the recent deadly attacks.

“We are not aware of these road attacks or road ambushes whatsoever. What we know is our forces are engaging SSPPDF South of Juba, in Otogo, in Mugo and yesterday it was in Mukaya,” Samuel said.

He said the “regime of [president] Salva Kiir” believe they have the justification “to blame us because that is an easy way to show the regime they’re working, but they are not representing the people.” 

Lukudu said he hopes NAS leader Thomas Cirilo will actively engage in ongoing peace talks between the government and holdout groups under a coalition called the South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance in Naivasha, Kenya.