In a brazen attack, the convoy of the Governor of South Sudan’s Upper Nile state, Budhok Ayang Kur, was ambushed by gunmen on March 7th, 2023. According to an official statement released by the government, the attack took place east of Juba, the capital city of South Sudan.
The attack left several people injured, including the governor himself, who sustained minor injuries. The governor was traveling with a delegation of government officials, and the attack took place while they were on their way to attend a peace conference in the city of Malakal.
The identity of the attackers is not yet known, and no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, the government has pointed fingers at rebel groups operating in the region, accusing them of carrying out the attack to disrupt the peace process.
The attack is just the latest in a series of violent incidents in South Sudan, where the security situation remains fragile despite the signing of a peace agreement in 2018. The country has been wracked by conflict since it gained independence from Sudan in 2011, with various rebel groups vying for control of territory and resources.
The attack on the governor’s convoy is a stark reminder of the challenges facing the government as it tries to bring lasting peace to the country. The government has been criticized for failing to address the root causes of the conflict and for not doing enough to protect civilians from violence.
In response to the attack, the government has vowed to intensify its efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice. The Minister of Information, Michael Makuei Lueth, stated that the government will not be deterred by the attack and will continue to work towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
The attack on the governor’s convoy has also been condemned by the international community, with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) calling for an immediate end to the violence. In a statement, UNMISS expressed concern about the increasing number of attacks on civilians and government officials and urged all parties to respect the peace process and work towards a lasting solution to the conflict.
The attack has also raised questions about the security situation in the country, and the government’s ability to protect its citizens. The government has been criticized for not doing enough to disarm rebel groups and for failing to provide adequate security to civilians in conflict-affected areas.