In a press briefing, Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, spokesperson for the South Sudan People Defence Forces (SSPDF), has confirmed that the National Salvation Front (NAS), led by Gen. Thomas Cirilo Swaka, is responsible for a recent attack on a bus traveling from Juba to Kampala, Uganda.

The assault occurred approximately 80 km from the capital, resulting in the death of a Ugandan and multiple injuries.

‘’In the morning of September 23, 2024, at around 8:30 to 9:00, a Bebeto bus traveling from Juba to Nimule was ambushed. In that ambush, one person was killed and eight people were injured, including seven civilians and one serviceman from the National Security Service. We have registered between seven and fourteen passengers that have gone missing or are strongly believed to have been abducted by the attackers,” he said.

“Our security forces were the first to respond to the scene, where they discovered that the bus was set ablaze, and by the time we arrived, it was still burning. We followed the footprints of the attackers, pursued them, and they ran towards Lobonok Payam of a Juba County of Central Equator State,’’ he added.

Gen. Koang highlighted that intelligence efforts before the attack showed unusual movements of armed groups in the area, and ecurity forced were being deployed in the area.

‘’In the last seven days our intelligence personnel detected unusual movements of armed elements within that area, and joint security forces were in the process of preparing and launching a surprise attack on their hideout, however, and unfortunately, we did not know that civilians were going to be the primary target.’’ he explained.

He assured the public that security operations are still ongoing and said, “Joint security forces are at work. We are actively combining suspected areas for NAS fighters, and those responsible for the attack will be hunted down and brought to justice.”

Gen. Koang further said the NAS threat has become not only a national threat but a regional threat because the person killed in the ambush is a national from the Republic of Uganda.

The National Salvation Front (NAS), led by Thomas Cirillo, is the largest South Sudanese militant group that has been active against the government since March 2017. Operating mainly in the Equatoria region, NAS aims to remove President Salva Kiir and establish a federal system in South Sudan.