Deadly Bus Attack in South Sudan: Fears of Kidnapping as Insecurity Persists

A deadly attack on a long-distance bus in South Sudan has raised fears of abductions, highlighting the continuing insecurity in parts of the country, despite an ongoing peace agreement. The passenger bus, which was traveling from South Sudan’s capital, Juba, towards Kampala in Uganda, came under gunfire on Tuesday morning, leaving at least one person dead and several others unaccounted for, according to the army. Images circulating from the scene show the horrific aftermath of the attack, with the bus engulfed in flames and thick black smoke rising into the sky. The attack took place 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Juba, on a road that has seen numerous violent incidents in recent years, exacerbating fears over the safety of travelers in the region. Maj Gen Lul Ruai Koang, the South Sudanese army’s spokesperson, confirmed that a Ugandan man was killed, and eight passengers were wounded. However, it is the seven missing individuals that have heightened concerns. Gen Koang suggested that they may have been abducted by the attackers. He pointed the finger at the National Salvation Front (NAS), a rebel group led by former deputy chief of staff Gen Thomas Cirilo Swaka. NAS has been known to operate in the area and has previously refused to sign the 2018 peace accord meant to end the country's civil war.

The NAS rebel group, which remains one of the major forces opposing the government in areas like Central Equatoria, has yet to respond to the accusations surrounding the latest bus ambush. The peace deal signed in 2018 was a milestone in South Sudan’s efforts to end years of brutal conflict, but intermittent violence, particularly in rural areas, remains a tragic reality for the population. In a statement to the BBC, Maj Gen Koang said that soldiers had been deployed to the scene and managed to fend off the attackers. However, no immediate information has been released regarding the fate of those feared kidnapped. Tuesday's incident is the latest in a string of violent attacks targeting civilians along the Juba-Nimule highway, a crucial route linking South Sudan with neighboring Uganda. This road has become notorious for deadly ambushes, with both South Sudanese nationals and foreign citizens falling victim to armed groups.

In August 2022, another devastating attack occurred on this same road when armed men ambushed a vehicle, killing 11 passengers, including both South Sudanese and Ugandans. Survivors recounted a harrowing ordeal in which they narrowly escaped death as bullets sprayed across the bus. A year earlier, in 2021, two Catholic nuns from South Sudan were shot and killed on this highway while returning to Juba, prompting widespread outrage and calls for greater security measures along the route. Despite such tragedies, the insecurity plaguing South Sudan's roads shows little sign of abating. With rebel groups like NAS continuing to reject the peace process, travelers, especially those venturing south of Juba, remain at significant risk. The country’s ongoing challenges, from political instability to rampant armed violence, pose significant barriers to peace and development. As efforts to restore stability continue, the situation on the ground remains deeply concerning, with incidents like the recent bus attack highlighting the precarious security situation in parts of South Sudan. Authorities are now working to track down those missing and investigate the full circumstances surrounding the ambush, while the families of those feared kidnapped await news with growing anxiety. For now, the deadly bus ambush serves as a grim reminder that, even in peacetime, the scars of conflict in South Sudan are far from healed.