President Salva Kiir has instructed municipal officials to
carry out a damage assessment in response to the devastating fire that broke
out at Juba's Konyo-konyo Market on Thursday.
Several shops and stores in the city's biggest market
suffered significant damage as a result of the afternoon fire.
In a statement issued by Press Secretary Lily Adhieu Martin
Manyiel, the president conveyed his sympathies to traders and business owners
affected by the incident. Saddened by their losses, he emphasized solidarity
during this challenging time.
“The President encourages all those impacted by the fire to
remain strong during this difficult time. He has directed the Juba City Council
and relevant security agencies to assess the extent of the damage and
investigate the cause of the fire thoroughly,” the statement read.
Additionally, Kiir has called on the Central
Equatoria State and Juba City Council authorities to prioritize safety measures
in Konyo-konyo, aiming to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
In videos shared on the media, eyewitnesses’ accounts show
the fire spread rapidly, engulfing multiple shops before firefighters managed
to contain it.
Investigations into the cause of the blaze are underway,
with updates expected in the coming days.
Traders have expressed frustration over the incident, which
has caused considerable disruption to their livelihoods.
Authorities are working to determine the full extent of the damage, but the office of the president has not made it clear whether the affected business owners will be assisted in recovering their losses after the damage assessment.
