Kiir condemns killing of innocent civilians in Juba

June 3, 2020 News, Newsbeat, South Sudan

South Sudan’s incumbent President, Gen. Salva Kiir Mayar, points at his opponents in a battle to consolidate power (Photo: file)

June 3, 2020 (SSNN) – South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit has condemned the killing – this morning – of four innocent civilians by a man believed by residents of the capital as his son saying investigations were ongoing.

This morning, residents of Juba woke up to gunshots after Lual Marine, President Salva Kiir’s son, killed four innocent civilians over dispute on a piece of land in the Sherikat area of Gumbo.

Protests later erupted calling for Kiir to address the “brutality of his relatives.”

In a statement this afternoon, Kiir’s office said the president has condemned the incident and urged the law enforcement to make sure that justice is service for the innocent lives lost today.

“H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit is deeply saddened about the shooting incident that occurred in Sherikat, Juba suburb early this morning. The President condemns this in the strongest terms possible, and has directed authorities to investigate the incident and press charges against the perpetrator/s immediately,” the statement signed by Kiir’s press secretary Ateny Wek partly reads.

The statement said the situation was under control and denied reports that the perpetrator is son of the president and urged the people taking to the streets for calm.

“The situation is under control as the security organs are now stationed in the crime scene. The perpetrator has been apprehended by authorities and is under close monitor in hospital, in a critical condition. It is unclear whether he was injured during the incident or after his arrest,” the statement said.

“The killings of five people, 4 (four) men and 1 (one) woman is a very serious criminal act the perpetrator (s) must be punished. Our sympathy to the families of the victims. In the same note, the Office of the President hereby categorically denies the allegations circulated in the social media by some individuals that the apprehended suspect is a son to President Salva Kiir Mayardit,” the statement added.

It however said the culprit is a “distance relative of the President, but he was acting alone. The suspect is called Lual Akook Wol Kiir- a distance cousin to the President. President Kiir’s son is called Lual Salva Kiir Mayardit who wasn’t involved in the incident.”