The Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Alliance on Elections in South Sudan has strongly condemned a recent attack by unidentified assailants in MiriLoko village, Lui, Mundri East County, Western Equatoria State. The attack, which occurred on Thursday, resulted in the deaths of two people, including Veronica Lucy Gordon, a former SSBC journalist and recent parliamentary candidate, and Justin Akim, a former teacher and church elder. One person was critically injured, and several delegates are missing or in hiding.
The CSOs Alliance expressed its condolences to the families and communities of the victims and urged authorities to make urgent efforts to find the missing delegates and provide medical and psychosocial support to survivors. The Alliance described the attack as a grave violation of fundamental human rights and a serious threat to democratic participation and the electoral process in South Sudan.
The killing of a woman who sought public office, Veronica Lucy Gordon, is particularly alarming, according to the CSOs Alliance. The organization stated that violence and intimidation against women in political and public life undermine their constitutional rights and equal participation in governance. The Alliance called on the National and Western Equatoria State authorities to conduct an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation into the attack.
The CSOs Alliance urged the authorities to intensify search and rescue efforts to locate all missing delegates and provide medical and psychosocial assistance to survivors and affected families. The organization also called for strengthened protection for political candidates, delegates, journalists, election observers, and civilians, particularly women participating in political and electoral processes.
The attack has been widely condemned, and the CSOs Alliance emphasized that violence and impunity must have no place in South Sudan's democratic transition. The organization stated that safety and equal participation in public life must be guaranteed for all citizens. The Alliance reaffirmed its commitment to a peaceful, inclusive, and democratic South Sudan.
The incident highlights the security challenges faced by politicians, particularly women, in South Sudan. The country's electoral process has been marred by violence and intimidation in the past, and the CSOs Alliance is calling for urgent action to prevent such incidents in the future. The organization is working with stakeholders to promote peaceful and inclusive elections.
The CSOs Alliance stands in solidarity with the affected families and communities and will continue to advocate for a peaceful and democratic South Sudan. The organization is calling on all stakeholders to work together to prevent violence and promote equal participation in public life.
Key points
- The attack resulted in the deaths of two people, including a former journalist and parliamentary candidate.
- The CSOs Alliance called for an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation into the attack.
- The organization urged authorities to provide medical and psychosocial support to survivors and affected families.
