At least 12 people have been killed in South Sudan in the past two days during ongoing protests targeting Sudanese nationals, despite the implementation of a curfew aimed at controlling the unrest, security forces reported on Saturday.
The violence erupted after reports that 29 South Sudanese citizens had been killed in Sudan’s Al-Jazeera state, prompting widespread demonstrations. In the capital, Juba, protesters looted businesses owned by Sudanese nationals, leading to clashes with police who opened fire, killing three and injuring seven.
In Aweil, another town affected by the protests, nine people—including two South Sudanese and seven Sudanese—were killed. The South Sudanese government imposed a curfew on Friday night as the protests spread to other towns, although police reported that the security situation had stabilised.
“The general security situation is relatively calm and stable in the whole country for the last 24 hours,” said police spokesman John Kassara in a statement.
The streets of Juba appeared calm on Saturday evening, with a heavy police presence, though Sudanese-owned businesses remained closed. South Sudanese President Salva Kiir called for restraint amidst the violence.
As tensions continued, more than 600 Sudanese nationals were taken to the South Sudan army headquarters for protection, while 278 others were under police guard in Central Equatoria. Many Sudanese have sought refuge in South Sudan since the outbreak of civil war in Sudan in April 2023, which has led to the deaths of tens of thousands and displaced millions.
