Cairo South Sudanese gangs deadliest violence

By Akot Marial

June 22, 2008 — It’s yet another bad season for Southern Sudanese community living in Cairo in the aftermath of all hell let loose without interference from the Egyptian government.

Last week cast a dark shadow on those who have fallen victims of the so-called “Lost Boys and Outlaws” sects or rather, well-known as the Cairo gangs, who are notorious of robbery with violence and terror on their fellow South Sudanese and other black Africans.

It was on Saturday, late in the evening, when a group of “Lost Boys” and “Lost Girls” gang members took to the streets of Cairo armed with machetes, pangas and knives in the realm and characteristic manner of what they call “rob and slaughter” to ostensibly make a living due to the scarcity of jobs and constant exposition to racism in Egypt.

Moreover, since all their attempts of fulfilling the American dream by immigrating have failed due to CPA peace deal signed in 2005 between the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M), these groups can not come to terms with Government of South Sudan and the United Nations call for voluntary repatriation home to the Sudan.

Instead, hundreds of Southern Sudanese youths are willing to either live the dangerous gangster-ism or take the risky trip to Israel for the sake of a more affluent life.

Last Saturday’s gangs raids were the deadliest of all and among the casualties were Mr. Dhal Noy Dhal of Awiel State and a student of St. Andrew’s School, and Mr. Juma of Central Equatoria, who were seriously hacked with Machetes all over their bodies and are now under intensive care in one of the Egyptian hospitals.

Scores of other people also sustained serious injuries when they were confronted by a group of about 75 “Lost Boys” gangsters, led by a Mr. Lado Angelo Tobi, otherwise well known as ‘Ronald’ and his deputy, Jiel Deng Thokbang.

The above same group had also in the morning just outside the office gate attacked an Egyptian Journalist lady working in the GoSS Consulate in Cairo, where she sustained minor injuries and also she lost her jewelry and some cash to the attackers. This is not the first time they are targeting staff in the consulate– it has been a routine, anyway.

Following President Kiir’s and his entourage recent visit to Egypt, the decision was made in conjunction with the Egyptian national security to crack down on both groups where a handful of them were arrested and taken back to South Sudan but a good number of them are still at large and continue terrorizing South Sudanese and other black African Communities.

Many people have blamed and accused an ‘invisible hand’ of being behind the formation of the two groups ostensibly to weaken and portray the very bad feature of the Government of south Sudan in the world political arena.

Government of South Sudan has to do something drastic to put to an end these inhumane acts being frequently and heinously committed by these south Sudanese gangs with apparent impunity.

The author is a Sudanese based in Cairo.