What happened to Sudanese people in South Sudan and why?

Sudan Events – Agencies

The flames of the Sudanese crisis have extended to Sudanese living in neighboring South Sudan. Seven Sudanese were killed, others were injured, and their stores were looted following protests in southern cities over the killing of South Sudanese citizens in the Gezira State in central Sudan, after the military took control of its capital, Wad Madani, a week ago.

Although South Sudan separated from Sudan in 2011 after a bloody war that lasted for decades, thousands of South Sudanese citizens have continued to live in various cities and states in Sudan. Some work as seasonal laborers in the Gezira agricultural project in central Sudan, and many live in residential areas on the outskirts of cities called “kanabi,” inhabited by farmers and workers mostly from the Darfur and Kordofan regions in western Sudan.

After the Sudanese military regained control of Wad Madani on January 11, “Kambo Five” in the Um Qurri locality in eastern Gezira State witnessed violent events, with armed assailants attacking civilians in the area, resulting in the death of 13 people, including citizens from South Sudan, followed by similar events in other areas.

This report answers the most important questions regarding why the events in Gezira State moved to South Sudan, how Sudanese people were targeted in Juba and other cities, who is behind the campaign against the Sudanese, and the efforts made to contain the crisis.

1- How many South Sudanese citizens are in Sudan and Gezira State?
An official source from the Sudanese government, who requested anonymity, revealed to Al Jazeera that “more than 15,000 South Sudanese mercenaries are fighting alongside the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan, especially in using artillery and rockets, and have participated in various battlefields in the Darfur, West Kordofan, Khartoum, Gezira, and Sennar states. Thousands of them were killed in the battles, and dozens were captured.”

The official added that South Sudanese mercenaries played a large role in the battles in southern Gezira State, particularly in Wad Al-Hadid and Haj Abdullah, and are currently deployed with the Rapid Support Forces in the localities of Al-Hasahisa and Al-Kamilin, where clashes are taking place between the military and the Rapid Support Forces.

2- Was there communication between the Sudanese and South Sudanese governments regarding the participating militants?
The Sudanese official explained that Sudanese intelligence chief Ahmed Ibrahim Mufdal visited South Sudan before accompanying the Chairman of the Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, to Juba a few weeks ago. During the visit, information was shared with South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit about the involvement of mercenaries from his country.

In response, Kiir informed the Sudanese side that the militants belong to groups opposed to his government and promised to cooperate with Sudan to address the issue. He also committed to seizing the vehicles and looted goods of Sudanese citizens who crossed into his country.

3- What happened to South Sudanese citizens in Gezira State after the military regained control of Wad Madani?
The official believes that Gezira State witnessed several massacres and widespread violations committed by the Rapid Support Forces against civilians, including systematic killings, rape, and looting over a full year, which created widespread anger. After the liberation of Wad Madani, some acts of revenge took place, resulting in the deaths of 20 people, who were considered by locals to be collaborators with the Rapid Support Forces, including five South Sudanese citizens.

The official added that Sudan’s Sovereign Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan formed an investigation committee to identify those responsible for the killing of suspected collaborators with the Rapid Support Forces.

Vice President of the Sovereign Council, Malik Agar, emphasized that his government would not allow anyone to “take the law into their own hands,” referring to acts of revenge in some areas recently recaptured by the Sudanese military in Gezira State.

Agar also issued a statement affirming that “the perpetrators of the killings and violence in Gezira State will be interrogated and brought to justice.”

4- How and when did the targeting of Sudanese in Juba and other cities in South Sudan begin?
Since the Rapid Support Forces acknowledged their defeat in Wad Madani, multiple statements have been issued by the forces and various political organizations, accompanied by a social media campaign in South Sudan labeling the events in “Kambo Five” as “ethnically targeted.”

Last Wednesday evening, South Sudanese in a hotel in Juba harassed a Sudanese diplomat from the Sudanese embassy, leading to a scuffle with angry youth over the killing of some of their compatriots in Gezira State. Security forces intervened and removed the diplomat, escorting the attackers.

On Thursday morning, protests erupted in Juba, starting from the Sudanese embassy in the city center. The protests quickly spread to markets and neighborhoods where thousands of Sudanese refugees live, who fled the war between the military and Rapid Support Forces in mid-April 2023. The number of Sudanese refugees in South Sudan is estimated at around 650,000, according to the United Nations.

5- What was the scale of the protests? Which cities were affected? What were the consequences for Sudanese people?
According to a Sudanese community official in South Sudan, the attacks on Sudanese people affected neighborhoods in Juba where they live, targeting stores owned by Sudanese in the Congo Congo market in the city. Similar attacks also occurred in Wau, Malakal, Aweil, and Renk.

The official further stated that the events led to the looting and destruction of several stores and businesses in Juba, as well as in other markets and neighborhoods. The unrest continued for the second day in Juba and other cities, resulting in three deaths and 17 injuries among the Sudanese community.

The most deadly attack was the assassination of Dr. Abdel Rahman Omar in Wau, along with an assault on his family at their home. In Aweil, the Sudanese were evacuated by the police to a school after dozens of youths armed with machetes attacked Sudanese people in the markets and neighborhoods.

On Saturday morning, Bor city in Jonglei State witnessed attacks on Sudanese, with stones and glass bottles being thrown at them, injuring some and burning their shops, leading dozens of Sudanese to seek refuge at the United Nations compound.

6- Who participated in the attacks on Sudanese people?
Joseph Edmond, an employee of an international organization in Juba, stated that most of those who participated in the attacks were from groups known as “the niggers,” along with other criminal gangs who exploited the anger and frustration of some South Sudanese citizens. Their goal was to loot stores and companies, and to set some of them on fire after chaos erupted before the authorities intervened.

The authorities deployed security forces in Juba and other states to protect the Sudanese community from further attacks. The government also intervened by dispatching police and other security agencies to disperse the looters and criminals, and to protect the Sudanese in Juba and other cities. A security cordon was also placed around the Sudanese embassy.

7- What is the official position of South Sudan regarding the attacks on Sudanese people and their property?
South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, following a meeting with security officials, ordered the protection of Sudanese people and their property. He issued a decree banning protests by angry youths in various parts of the capital and other cities, and vowed to prosecute anyone found guilty of violence, looting, and other criminal acts.

Kiir stated in a televised speech, “The people of South Sudan still consider Sudan their homeland, and similarly, many Sudanese citizens regard South Sudan as their homeland, due to our shared history. Therefore, the South Sudanese government is obligated to protect them.”

Regarding the killing of his citizens in Sudan, Kiir warned that “these brutal acts, which allegedly were committed by the Sudanese military, bring back painful and emotional memories,” adding that “such heinous acts are unacceptable and can only be compared to terrorism.”

8- Were the attacks on Sudanese in South Sudan contained after two days of events?
Sudanese businessmen residing in Juba and Wau for more than ten years described the situation as “a tragedy.” They explained that Sudanese people are living in difficult conditions in South Sudanese cities, facing the risk of death after their property was looted and destroyed, and their shops burned. They believe that the events were part of a coordinated campaign fueled by a targeted social media attack against Sudanese people.

Hundreds of Sudanese have sought refuge at police stations and United Nations facilities for protection. This situation requires intervention by the Sudanese government to evacuate those who wish to return to Sudan, according to Sudanese businessmen, who believe that the targeting campaign has expanded beyond Sudanese to other foreign-owned businesses, including those of Ugandans and Ethiopians, who have been looted by gangs and impoverished individuals suffering from the deteriorating economic situation.