Activist asks government to curb gun violence in Juba

By Awan Achiek

The transitional unity government has been urged to address the rampant gun violence in Juba following a spate of shootings by armed people.

Taban Christopher, the Executive Director of Vision for Generation and a representative of civil society in the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), said on Thursday that the recent shootings that caused deaths and injuries have created fear and anxiety.

“In the recent weeks, Juba city has experienced terrible safety threats. We have seen and witnessed the resurfacing of the unknown gunmen that have claimed several lives without being arrested,” Christopher said during the meeting of RJMEC in Juba.

“The perpetrators have not been arrested and have not been brought to book. We have seen road ambushes on Yei-Morobo road. The perpetrators are still at large,” he added.

The shooting incidents in Eastern Equatoria State have left 12 people killed, and yet none of the perpetrators have been apprehended.

 “Civil society feels concerned as to what exactly the security apparatus are up to regarding the deteriorating security in Juba,” Christopher said.

The shooting incident by armed assailants in plain clothes last week at Seven Day Roundabout left one person killed and another person injured.

In a separate incident, a police officer identified as Lt. Marial allegedly opened fire in a restaurant in Hai Cinema injuring about five people.

The two incidents and another shootout in the Sherikat-Gumbo suburb have caused fear and panic in the public.