South Sudan says no diplomatic row over Nairobi murder - Coastweek

NAIROBI (Xinhua) -- South Sudan on Tuesday dispelled rumors of a diplomatic spat with Kenya over the murder of a government official in a robbery attack on Sunday night in a Nairobi suburb.

Second Secretary of the South Sudan Embassy in Kenya Pauline Adhong Malok told journalists in Nairobi that the tragic death of Alemo Oneik Amulu, a 42-year-old official in the office of the Speaker of Council of State in Juba, is being handled as a normal crime.

"The Embassy of the Republic of South Sudan would like to bring to your attention the death of Amulu who died on Oct. 15.

"The 42- year-old was shot by unknown people while returning home from city to Kasarani estate," Malok said.

According to Malok, the deceased was shot a few minutes after he was dropped by a taxi around 10:45 p.m. local time (1945 GMT) on the road adjacent to his temporal residence in Kasarani residential estate in Nairobi.

The assailants took Alemo‘s wallet and mobile phone. He visited Kenya on Oct. 9 to seek medical attention and planned to return to Juba this week.

Malok said Amulu’s death has been reported to the police and the Foreign Affairs Ministry for further investigations.

"The embassy is pursuing investigations but for now, the case is being treated as a normal crime," said Malok

She added that thorough investigations by the Kenyan police point to a spontaneous armed robbery.

Malok dispelled rumors that the killing might trigger diplomatic fallout with Kenya.

She appealed to Kenyan and South Sudanese citizens to exercise caution and sobriety as authorities investigate Alemo‘s murder.

"At this time of empathy with our South Sudanese brethren over Alemo‘s unfortunate demise, it is important for the citizens of our two countries to rise above parochial and xenophobic leanings and focus on growing the mutual and amicable ties that have been developed for many years," Malok said.