Four Sudanese traders killed along border with South Sudan
November 12, 2013 (BENTIU) -Four Sudanese traders were on Monday killed by suspected bandits along the border with Sudan.
The murdered traders had for years traded with their South Sudan counterparts in Unity State.
The traders were identified as Omer Suleiman Abdelkarim, Yaukob Suleiman Abdelkarim, Nimeiri Hamed Dayey and Ibrahim Abdelkarim.
News of their death was received with shock in Rubkotna County after information filtered in that they had been killed in the disputed Abyei region, only about 5kms out of South Sudan territory.
The Chairperson of the traders union in Rubkotna, James Kum Pan, condemned the murder describing it as painful for both family of the dead traders and the South Sudanese people.
Pan said the death could affect cross border trade with Sudan.
“A trader is a person who has no problem with anybody. They should not be killed like that. Their coming here is to bring some goods for the benefit of citizens of South Sudan. If incidents like this keep occurring trading along the border will not progress well”, said Pan.
Pan said traders in Rubkotna are unhappy with the death adding that after the incident no vehicle from Sudan had crossed into South Sudan territory
The Commissioner of Rubkotna, Thomas Maluit Hoth, confirmed the incident saying the suspected bandits had burnt the car belonging to the traders after murdering them.
The Commissioner said a committee comprising of security personnel had been dispatched to the area to investigate the murder.
“We as the government of the Unity state will be taking some measures so that what happened does not happen again. We have sent our security forces to the border to take control of the situation.’’
He said since South Sudan attained independence in 2011 it has been hospitable to citizens from neighbouring countries. He promised safety for foreigners in the state.
(ST)