The incident, which left 11 traders injured, saw armed youths launch a night raid on Bahr el Ghazal-owned shops in Bor, walking away with more than 39 million SSP, 7,000 USD, and dozens of mobile phones.
Speaking to this publication on Tuesday in Juba on his return from Bor, Garang said he held meetings with various stakeholders, including the Bor town mayor’s office, youth leaders from Jonglei, and Bahr el Ghazal community representatives based in Bor, to establish the facts of the incident and press for accountability.
“I urged the authorities to do three things: first, arrest the suspects; second, compensate the victims whose goods were looted; and third, ensure the protection of traders from other states, including Aweil, who do business in Bor,” he stated.
Garang, however, expressed frustration that no arrests had been made more than a week after the attack. He warned that the continued delay was heightening anger among youths in Bahr el Ghazal, who view the incident as a deliberate targeting of their people.
“This looks xenophobic, just like what happened some years ago in Bor. If left unchecked, it could plant hostility and a cycle of revenge among the youth of this country, which is dangerous and illogical,” he cautioned.
Despite his concerns, Garang appealed for calm and restraint, saying he had received assurances from Bor authorities that investigations were underway and suspects would be brought to justice. He emphasised the need to step up security to prevent similar attacks and to deter gangs from engaging in what he described as “rogue behaviour.”
