Sudan Bus Collision Leaves South Sudanese Dead
South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday that 12 South Sudanese citizens were killed and 40 others injured in a bus collision in Sudan on Wednesday.
According to the ministry, the crash happened in Duweim, a city in Sudan’s White Nile state. It said two passenger buses collided, and one of them was transporting South Sudanese returnees heading back home.
Foreign Ministry Statement and Condolences
In its statement, the ministry said it was “sadly informed” of the incident. It offered its “deepest condolence to the families of the deceased” and said it wished the injured a swift recovery.
The ministry added that it is following developments through South Sudan’s embassy in Port Sudan, while coordinating with Sudanese authorities to secure support for victims and their families.
Juba Calls for Better Sudan–South Sudan Repatriation Coordination
The South Sudanese government said it was not aware of the “transportation of large number of South Sudanese nationals from Sudan to South Sudan.” It appealed for improved coordination with Sudan in future repatriation of refugees.
Officials framed the appeal as a practical measure to strengthen planning and ensure that movements of returnees are handled with clearer communication between the two countries.
Why Return Journeys From Sudan Remain Complex
Tens of thousands of South Sudanese have remained in Sudan more than a decade after South Sudan’s independence in 2011. Many have been returning amid the war that erupted in Sudan in April 2023.
The ministry’s account also noted that recent tightening of Sudanese laws on foreign nationals has added legal uncertainty for many South Sudanese, further complicating return arrangements.