Civil society activist condemns killings in Kajo-Keji county

February 4, 2023 (JUBA) – A South Sudanese civil society activist has “strongly” condemned the killing of more than 20 people in Kajo-Keji county of Central Equatoria county.

The incident, blamed on cattle herders from Bor, occurred on the eve of Pope Francis’s visit to the capital, Juba.

Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) described the incident as “inhuman”.

“The perpetrators [of the attack] should be held accountable and government intervention is urgently required. It is unfortunate armed violence takes place in the face of political leaders with less intervention,” he explained.

Yakani, an award-winning human rights activist, said the selective approach to resolving deadly communal violence is fueling conflict in parts of the country.

“Civilian-to-civilian armed violence at the sub-national level is undermining the constitutional role of the national government and increasing citizens’ mistrust and lack of confidence in the national government,” he stressed.

The activist called on the United Nations Human Rights Commission for South Sudan to investigate the killings and ensure those who carried out the deadly attack are brought to justice.

(ST)