President Kiir regrets killing of senior military officers in Tonj North

By Simon Deng
President Salva Kiir has regretted the recent killing of several officers in a shoot-out with armed
youth in Tonj North County of Warrap State.
“Even more disheartening is the recent violence in Tonj North where many military personnel,
including several senior officers lost their lives at the hands of our own civilian population,” Kiir
Said during his address to the nation as the country celebrated 11 th independence anniversary
on Saturday.
He said his government will no longer allow what he termed as “senseless killing” of security
personnel and civilians to continue.
“Justice will be served on behalf of those whose lives have been lost through this pointless
violence,” Kiir said.
On June 25, South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) clashed with armed youth in Tonj
North after the soldiers intercepted looted herds of cattle.
The violence left 18 military personnel including senior army officers and seven civilians killed.
“The gains we have made in the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement are being
eroded by inter-communal violence across the country, we have lost many lives in Western
Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, Central Equatoria and Warrap states to inter-communal
violence,”Kiir said.

In addition, the President called on members of the transitional national legislative assembly
(TNLA) to put away their partisan policies and engage in genuine debate to speed up the
process to enact the permanent constitution.