The Western Equatoria State Civil Society Network has strongly condemned a recent armed attack on civilian travelers along the Juba-Mundri Road. According to the network, the attack occurred on September 27 between Lanyi and Lui in Mundri East County, targeting two Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles carrying civilian passengers. The vehicles were attacked and burned, resulting in the abduction of over 20 people. The network also reported that some women were raped during the attack.
Local officials have confirmed that approximately 32 people were abducted during the ambush. However, at least 27 have since been released and taken to Juba by their families, while an unknown number remain unaccounted for. Those released reportedly endured beatings and torture while in captivity, and some women reported being raped. The civil society network has expressed concern that the attack threatens civilian protection, freedom of movement, and humanitarian assistance along the road.
The road connects communities in Western Equatoria to essential services such as markets and health services. Wanga Emmanuel, Chairperson of the Civil Society Network in Western Equatoria State, emphasized that insecurity along the route affects not only civilians but also humanitarian workers and economic activities. He stated that civilians are often the primary victims of both economic and political crises.
The civil society network has urged the caretaker government and national authorities to investigate the attack and establish the whereabouts of those still missing. They have also called for strengthened security along major roads and for armed groups and security actors to cease attacks, abductions, looting, and the burning of civilian property. Instead, they recommend pursuing dialogue to resolve conflicts.
Isaac Fora, the Western Equatoria State Director General in the Ministry of Information and Communication, has confirmed that police in Mundri East are investigating the attack. He noted that the released passengers had already traveled to Juba with assistance from their families, making it challenging for authorities to gather detailed information about the attackers.
Fora has called on armed groups with grievances against the government to pursue dialogue rather than attacking civilians. He emphasized that such actions will not achieve their desired outcomes and urged them to engage with the government to resolve their issues. The police have deployed joint security patrols along the road to protect civilians and travelers.
Despite these efforts, no arrests have been made, and the motive for the attack remains unclear. The civil society network and local authorities continue to call for urgent action to ensure the safety and security of civilians and to bring those responsible for the attack to justice.
Key points
- The Western Equatoria State Civil Society Network condemns the armed attack on civilian travelers along the Juba-Mundri Road.
- The attack resulted in the abduction of approximately 32 people, with at least 27 released and an unknown number still missing.
- Authorities have deployed joint security patrols along the road to protect civilians and travelers, but no arrests have been made.
