US urges gov’t to apprehend killers of Chinese road worker

JUBA – The United States embassy in Juba on Wednesday issued a statement condemning the continued killing of foreign workers in South Sudan and urged the government of the world’s youngest country to apprehend criminals including those who killed a Chinese road worker along Juba-Rumbek highway.

Last week, a Chinese road worker working for the Shangdong High Speed Company which is constructing the Juba-Bahr el Ghazal highway was gunned down along with a serviceman of the South Sudan People’s Defense Force.

The army has condemned the incident and vowed to bring to book the perpetrators. However, the criminals have remained at large and it is unclear if any investigation into motives that led to his killing is ongoing.

In a statement seconding a Chinese embassy statement that also lamented the killing, the United States in Juba condemned the incident and the continued violence against foreign workers in South Sudan.

“We agree with the Chinese Ambassador [for condemning the killing of Chinese roadwork],” the US embassy said in the statement. “We condemn the recent murders of foreign workers and South Sudanese who are working on projects in South Sudan.”

The statement urged the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity “to ensure accountability by arresting those responsible.”