South Sudan imposes nationwide overnight curfew to curb violence targeting Sudanese traders

JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — South Sudanese authorities have imposed a countrywide dusk-to-dawn curfew after a night of violence during which businesses run by Sudanese traders in the capital were looted.

Police chief Gen. Abraham Manyuat said Friday that the curfew will commence from 6 p.m. local time to dawn to curb looting incidents reported in Juba and other major towns.

Businesses are now required to close by 5 p.m. as part of measures to enhance security. “We will protect all the markets,” said Manyuat, speaking on state-run television.

The violence targeting Sudanese nationals is believed to have been provoked by alleged killings of South Sudanese nationals by militia groups in remote parts of Sudan earlier this week.

Several stores in Juba and elsewhere remained closed Friday.

Speaking of the alleged targeting of South Sudanese people in areas such as the state of Gezira, a press secretary for the presidency urged restraint. “We mustn't allow anger to cloud our judgment or turn against Sudanese traders and refugees currently residing in our country,” said Lily Adhieu Martin Manyiel.

Civil war in Sudan has created a widening famine and the world’s largest displacement crisis. Fighting between forces loyal to rival military leaders exploded in the capital, Khartoum, in April 2023 and spread to other areas.

The conflict has been marked by atrocities, including ethnically motivated killing and rape, according to the U.N. and rights groups.

Sudanese nationals carrying their belongings arrive at the South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF) headquarters after a night of violence in Juba, South Sudan, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Florence Miettaux)

Sudanese nationals sit outside the South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF) headquarters, after a night of violence in Juba, South Sudan, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Florence Miettaux)

Gisma Adam Idris, 23, who fled the war in Al-Fasher in Sudan's western Darfur region nine months ago with her husband and two children, seek refuge at the South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF) headquarters in Juba, South Sudan, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Florence Miettaux)

Sudanese nationals carrying their belongings arrive at the South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF) headquarters after a night of violence in Juba, South Sudan, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Florence Miettaux)

Sudanese nationals carrying their belongings arrive at the South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF) headquarters after a night of violence in Juba, South Sudan, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Florence Miettaux)

South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF)'s senior officials, visit Sudanese nationals seeking safety at the army headquarters after a night of violence in Juba, South Sudan, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Florence Miettaux)

Khatmallah Ali, 30, a South Sudanese whose husband is from Sudan's western Darfur region, holds her one month old baby under a tree with her three other children, at the South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF) headquarters in Juba, South Sudan, on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Florence Miettaux)

DENVER (AP) — A Frontier Airlines plane hit and killed a pedestrian on the runway of the Denver International Airport during takeoff, airport authorities said, sparking an engine fire and forcing passengers to evacuate.

The plane, on route from Denver to Los Angeles International Airport, “reported striking a pedestrian during takeoff at DEN at approximately 11:19 p.m. on Friday," the airport's official X account wrote.

A spokesperson for the airport said the pedestrian, who jumped a perimeter fence, has died. They said the unidentified person was hit two minutes after entering the airport. The person is not believed to be an airport employee.

“We're stopping on the runway,” the pilot tells the control tower according to the site ATC.com. “We just hit somebody. We have an engine fire.”

The pilot tells the air traffic controller they have “231 souls” on board and that an “individual was walking across the runway.”

The air traffic controller responds that they are “rolling the trucks now" before the pilot tells the tower they “have smoke in the aircraft. We are going to evacuate on the runway.”

Frontier Airlines said in a statement flight 4345 was the one involved in the collision and that “smoke was reported in the cabin and the pilots aborted takeoff.” It was not clear whether the smoke was linked to the crash with the pedestrian.

“The Airbus A321 was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members,” the airline said. “We are investigating this incident and gathering more information in coordination with the airport and other safety authorities.”

Passengers were then evacuated via slides and the emergency crew bused them to the terminal. The airport spokesperson said 12 passengers suffered minor injuries and five were taken to local hospitals.

Denver Airport said the National Transportation Safety Board had been notified and that runway 17L, where the incident took place, will remain closed while an investigation is conducted. It is expected to open later today.

The pedestrian death came a day after a Delta Air Lines employee was killed while on the job at the Orlando International Airport. In a statement, the airline said the employee was killed Thursday night without providing details of the incident nor the name of the employee.

“We are focused on extending our full support to family and taking care of our Orlando team during this difficult time,” the airline said. "We are working with local authorities as a full investigation gets underway to determine what occurred.”

FILE - A Frontier Airlines jetliner taxis down a runway for take off from Denver International airport on Nov. 25, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)