Juba, South Sudan,
June 14, 2021 – The government has ordered authorities in Unity State to investigate the killing of Dr. Louis Edward Saleh Ufew who was murdered in Panyijar County in May, and arrest the culprit or cohorts linked to the murder.
A statement delivered by the Minister of Cabinet Affairs Dr. Martin Elia Lomoro with the directive from President Salva Kiir says the government obtained an autopsy report from the Ministry of Health which indicates Dr. Edward died in a homicide-related incident.
“Today, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health presented the forensic report conducted on Sunday 23rd May 2021, by Consultant Forensic Specialist at the Juba Military Hospital,” part of the statement says.
“The report confirmed that Dr. Louis died of Homicidal Death, citing repetitive cuts at the neck, injured major blood vessels of the neck and sustenance of stab wound to the arm indicating struggle injures,” the statement added.
After the presentation of the report and persistent concerns raised by the Health Professional Committee, the government has ordered the deployment of security organs in the area where the incident happened; Ganyliel.
“The Governor of Unity State is ordered to deploy all the security organs in the area to arrest the lead culprit and cohorts, conduct a comprehensive investigation of the incident and engage the Civil Prosecutor in Unity State to assess the case and direct the same to the appropriate level of the Court,” it says.
The government has also urged the leadership of the SPLM-IO to admonish the self-appointed commissioner it did not mention, publicly dismiss him and his supporters and hand over the area to the jurisdiction of the state government.
The directive from the government came a day after health workers called off their strike on grounds of humanity. However, this move by the government appears to have contributed to the maximum in convincing the health professionals to suspend their strike, including a proposed nationwide stay-away.
