Juba
After a day of protests following the death of South Sudanese singer Trisha Cee and a boda boda driver at Mobil roundabout, a number of arrests and subsequent releases have been made by police.
The pair were killed yesterday afternoon, after an Ethiopian water truck collided with a number of other vehicles at the roundabout. The boda boda driver died instantly, whilst Trisha Cee succumbed to her injuries at Juba Teaching Hospital.
In response to the accident and subsequent response of the emergency services, a number of key activists assembled at the roundabout in protest. They demanded answers as to how the government sought to fix South Sudan's health service and prevent similar incidents in future.
After some hours of protest, it is reported that the police began to arrest suspected ringleaders. Amongst those detained include Jame Kolok, Executive Director of the Foundation for Democracy and Accountable Governance; Wani Michael, Executive Director of OKAY Africa, and Manasseh Mathiang, a youth activist.
The arrests triggered nationwide attention, with prominent figures in the humanitarian and civic awareness sectors calling for their release.
'My appeal goes to the IGP and the Central Equatoria police commissioner to free those activists', said Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO).
As of this evening, it has been reported that the 22 protestors arrested by the police have been released, all without charge.
Speaking to press, detained activist Nunu Diana told journalists that 'the people who have come on the streets today are oppressed young people of South Sudan. We’ve been watching this. Enough is enough. We need the system to be put in place. The healthcare system must be put in place. The healthcare system must be put in place. We need peace. We’re angry. The peace agreement hasn’t been implemented. Where’s the government? We’ve lost people to road ambushes, unknown gun men, road accidents. Enough is enough'.
When journalists sought comment from the Spokesperson for the South Sudan National Police Service, none was received.
The incident has provoked a strong social media backlash, with numerous commentators turning to Twitter to air their grievances with local authorities under the hashtag #Justice4TrishaC.
Comentarios