South Sudan’s police say the security situation across the country remains generally calm, despite a series of deadly incidents reported on Monday in Juba and in the eastern town of Torit.
Police spokesperson Maj Gen James Monday Enoka told Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday that crime rates had fallen nationwide, but said isolated incidents were still being recorded and were under investigation.
In Juba’s Lemon Gaba neighbourhood, two children died on Monday evening after they became trapped inside an unattended vehicle. Gen Enoka said three children entered the car at around 6 pm but were unable to get out. Two suffocated and died at the scene, while the third survived and was taken to hospital.
“This is not the first time such incidents have occurred, especially involving children,” he said, adding that police would hold the vehicle owner accountable and had opened a negligence case.
Later the same evening, also in Lemon Gaba, three people were shot dead and four others wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire. Police have launched an investigation, and the Criminal Investigation Department is searching for the attackers.
“We do not want to speculate on whether they are rebels or bandits,” Gen Enoka said. “We will wait for official findings.”
In Torit, authorities reported no new cases on Tuesday, but the police spokesperson shared details from Monday’s security reports. He said a commercial vehicle came under gunfire along Torit Road from unidentified armed men, and a 22-year-old man was injured after being assaulted by his father over rumours. The suspect was arrested.
Gen Enoka also said a United Nations staff member from Burkina Faso had been detained along with a married woman after they were allegedly found engaging in a sexual act. Both are under investigation.
The spokesperson urged the public to continue reporting crimes, saying the absence of reports did not necessarily mean incidents were not occurring.
“Once an incident is reported, it moves through the security communication system up to the leadership and the media,” he said.