South Sudan: South Sudan Civil Society Chairman Survives Assassination Attempt

Juba — The chairman of the South Sudan Civil Society Alliance, Deng Athuai Mawiir, has survived an assassination attempt with at least one serious injury.

The shooting occurred on Friday in the South Sudanese capital, Juba. A government source who spoke to the South Sudan News Agency on condition of anonymity revealed that at least two unknown gunmen dressed in black military-style uniforms were responsible for the shooting.

"Deng has been shot multiple times by unknown-masked gunmen. Initial reports from many Eyewitnesses suggest that people who dressed in black military-fashion uniforms were seen shooting Deng and fled the scene after they thought their target [Deng] was dead", the source told the SSNA.

"He is now in a hospital getting necessary medical treatment for his wounds", the source added.

In 2012, Deng Athuai was kidnapped and tortured for three days by government agents who felt that the leader of civil society was spreading anti-government attitude. However, the government denied the abduction, asserting that organized criminals were responsible for Athuai's ordeal.

The police called his 2012 kidnapping "politically motivated".

Most South Sudanese believed that Mr. Athuai was the architect behind the anti-corruption campaign which forced President Kiir to write to seventy five (75) corrupted government officials-a campaign which infuriated many Kiir's political allies.