Civilians advised against using roads leading in and out of Juba

The National Salvation Front (NAS) is strongly advising civilians to avoid all types of travel on roads leading in and out of the capital Juba due to the ongoing joint military offensive by Kiir’s SSPDF and Machar’s SPLA-IO on NAS positions.

The advice is also aimed at protecting civilians from imminent atrocities by these joint forces of Kiir and Machar after the SSPDF, on May 04, barred UNMISS and all other NGOs from travelling along these roads – a move that provides cover while denying these NGOs access and evidence of the humanitarian catastrophe in the making.

According to a press statement released by Suba Samuel, the NAS spokesman, “NAS strongly advises civilians to avoid all types of movement including private and commercial vehicles movement on the roads leading in and out of the capital, Juba, due to high risk given the sporadic attacks by the government of Salva Kiir forces and SPLA IO.

“The roads from the Juba include: Juba-Yei-Kaya, Mundri-Maridi-Yambio, Juba-Nimule, Juba-Terekeka, Juba-Kajo-Keji, Juba-Lobonok, Mangala-Bor, and Torit-Kapoeta roads,” read the statement.

On May 05 2020, Kiir’s SSPDF and Machar’s SPLA-IO, aided by local militia recruited by Minister of Cabinet Affairs Dr Martin Elia, started an all-out military offensive aimed at displacing civilians from their villages and attacking NAS positions. However, NAS gallant forces have continued to resist the aggressors in self-defense and have defeated them on several fronts.

While upholding its obligation to protect civilians, and stay committed to the 2017 and 2019 CoHAs, the leadership of NAS has urged “members of International Community and international humanitarian organizations to closely monitor this worrying development and hold the government responsible for the suffering they are inflicting on civilians.”