Activists have urged the South Sudanese government and that of Egypt to act on the recent viral video showing a teenager believed to be a South Sudanese being assaulted in Cairo.

In a short video, the teenager and his cousin are being beaten by a group of Egyptian boys in Ain Shams in Cairo. The weekend incident caught the attention of many South Sudanese social media users. The victim has so far been identified as  14-year-old Kout Akok.

Community Empowerment for Progress Organization [CEPO] Executive Director Edmund Yakani said the attacks South Sudanese face in Egypt are contradicting the brotherhood pursued by the two countries under the tag name “brothers of the Nile”.

Yakani said, “It is known that in many cities across the globe there are unruly gangs groups, but the approach of the unruly group in Cairo beating, bullying and humiliating young South Sudanese without proper state authorities’ response is unacceptable.”

Egyptian embassy in Juba issued a statement condemning the incident.

But according to CEPO, issuing a random condemnation statement is not enough. “Juba and Cairo have constitutional obligation to grant every young South Sudanese in Egypt their safety, protection and security,” said Yakani.

He added that Juba in particular should demonstrate convincing action on the matter because such would be pivotal in helping the South Sudanese who are suffering in the hands of Egyptians.

“The silence or lack of transparency of Juba over the issues South Sudanese [face like] being beaten, bullied and humiliated by the Egyptians boys is not encouraging,’’ he said.