An officer was killed and others were injured in an accident involving the convoy of the Vice President of South Sudan.

Written by Mohamed Ragab:

An officer was killed and several people sustained injuries of varying severity, following a traffic accident involving the convoy of the Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan for the Services Sector, Hussein Abdelbagi Ayi.

This occurred in Aweil East County in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, sparking grief and official and popular concern in the country.

According to initial information, the incident occurred at Malwalcon roundabout, one of the main entrances to East Oweil County, as the Vice President's convoy passed through the area.

The incident resulted in the death of one of the protocol officers at the scene due to his injuries, while the injured were transferred to nearby health facilities to receive the necessary medical care.

The vice president was part of the convoy

Reports confirmed that Vice President Hussein Abdel Baqi was in the convoy at the time of the incident, but he was not injured and is in good health.

The sources also indicated that ambulance crews and security forces moved quickly to the scene of the accident to deal with the situation, secure the area and provide assistance to the injured.

The relevant authorities have not yet issued an official statement explaining the exact causes of the accident, but initial information suggests that the condition of the road and poor visibility due to dust and dirt were among the factors that contributed to it.

These factors are among the recurring challenges facing transportation in a number of areas of South Sudan, particularly in states with poor road infrastructure.

Malwalcon Roundabout is known as a major crossing point connecting different parts of East Oysal County, and the area sees constant traffic from government and commercial vehicles.

However, local residents have been complaining for years about the deterioration of some roads and the difficulty of getting around during periods of drought and rain, which increases the risk of traffic accidents.

An official investigation to determine the circumstances of the incident

It is expected that the competent authorities will launch an official investigation to determine the circumstances of the accident and accurately identify its causes, including examining the condition of the vehicles involved in the procession and the environmental conditions surrounding the incident.

The authorities are also expected to issue a detailed report in the coming days that includes the results of the investigation and the measures that will be taken to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

The incident brings back to the forefront the challenges related to road safety in South Sudan, with local organizations and transport experts calling for increased investment in infrastructure, improved road networks, and the development of traffic safety standards.

Observers believe that improving the condition of roads not only contributes to reducing accidents, but also helps to boost economic activity and facilitate the movement of citizens and government services.

While authorities continue to monitor the condition of the injured and complete investigations, attention is turning to measures that may be taken to strengthen safety measures for official convoys and transportation in areas with environmental and structural challenges, in order to protect lives and reduce risks on roads throughout the country.