Fear and Hope in Juba: 623 Arrested in Battle Against Gang Violence

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‎ ‎Central Equatoria State (CES) security forces have arrested 623 individuals suspected of affiliation with notorious street gangs in Juba as part of a sweeping anti-crime operation across the capital . ‎ ‎The suspects are allegedly linked to high-profile gangs such as 4SG Slime, West Coast, ODA, Killers Gang, Black Devils, among others. ‎ ‎While detailed profiles of the detainees remain pending, officials emphasize the operation is in direct response to a recent surge in heinous criminal activity including a particularly disturbing gang rape in the Shirikat area of Juba, which sparked national outrage and hastened the crackdown.  ‎ ‎In the wake of the arrests, CES Governor Rabi Emmanuel Mujung has renewed calls for reformatory schools aimed at providing vocational training and rehabilitation for youth implicated in gang activities. ‎ ‎This includes proposals for a holistic strategy pairing enforcement with social and mental health support a key element raised during recent securi...
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Betrayed by Their Own Government: Western Bahr el-Ghazal MPs Suffer in Silence

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Western Bahr El Ghazal State Assembly. 

‎At least 40 lawmakers in Western Bahr el-Ghazal State are reportedly bedridden without proper medical care due to the state government's failure to pay their medical allowances since they took office in 2020, according to a legislative spokesperson. 

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‎Joseph Mawut Athian, spokesperson for the Western Bahr el-Ghazal Transitional Legislative Assembly, told the media that the sick legislators lack even travel funds to seek treatment in Juba. 

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‎“We have about 40 MPs who are sick and without even the tickets for travel to Juba,” Athian said. 

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‎He accused executive members of using state funds for flights abroad both for medical treatment and personal trips while lawmakers struggle without basic resources. 

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‎“We are seeing some officials within the executive flying to Juba, Kenya and elsewhere, yet even our speaker has no car to travel to the Lokoloko neighborhood within Wau,” he said. 

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‎Athian said the assembly has repeatedly appealed to successive governors, from former Gov. Sarah Cleto to current Gov. Emmanuel Primo Okello, but received no response. 

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‎“The leadership of the State Legislative Assembly has written many documents concerning the recess and the medical allowances, but no response has been forthcoming,” he said. 

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‎Some legislators in Juba are reportedly selling personal assets to cover medical expenses, he added. 

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‎One lawmaker, Peter Andel, said he received no state support after breaking his leg in a recent road accident. 

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‎“Since the accident occurred outside the town, I was taken to Wau. I later went to Juba on my own,” Andel said. 

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‎His treatment cost $5,700, he said, and he stayed in the home of Kornelo Kon Ngu, a member of the National Transitional Legislative Assembly, for accommodation. 

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‎“I wrote a letter to the governor’s office, and up to now, there is no response,” Andel said. 

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‎Stephen Robo Musa, Western Bahr el-Ghazal coordinator for the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), called the situation “unfortunate.” 

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‎“Such discrimination is due to the weakness of the legislature in presenting the rights of civil servants,” Musa said. “The executive is taking advantage of being in control of the cash and prioritizing themselves over the legislators.” 

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‎The situation underscores ongoing tensions between the legislative and executive branches in Western Bahr el-Ghazal, highlighting concerns over governance and equitable resource allocation. 

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