Juba delegation visits W. Equatoria state as nine dead in clashes
August 2, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudanese government has dispatched a team comprising legislators, traditional leaders, prominent community personalities to Yambio, capital of Western Equatoria state, following a two-day clashes between local youth and armed members of Dinka ethnic group which left at least 9 people dead.
Former Western Equatoria state minister for physical infrastructure, Boutrous Magaya, who identifies himself as the spokesperson of Western Equatoria Leadership Council, said in a statement on Sunday that a high level delegation has been dispatched to the area to contain the situation from spiralling out of control.
“Yesterday, at approximately 11a.m., a high level delegation comprised of SPLA Generals and Members of Parliament as well as Members of Western Equatorial Leadership Council, including former minister of roads and bridges at the national level, Anthony Makana, Victor Danda, George Bamandara Kosta left Juba as they travelled to Yambio in an attempt to help contain the insecurity situation that has erupted since Friday in the capital city of western Equatoria state , Yambio, and following the problems at Birisi area,” Magaya said in a statement on Sunday.
The heavy shooting, according to him, took place on Friday night and continued to Saturday between armed groups mainly tribal groups from the Dinka, suspected lawless elements within SPLA and elements of youth from the Zande Local community in Yambio.
The clashes caused massive displacement as thousands of members of the local community fled to the protection of civilian site of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
“The clashes prompted panic among the population in the city,” minister Magaya said in the statement.
The national delegation was headed by army’s division 6 commander, Johnson Juma and composed of other senior generals from the South Sudanese army (SPLA) general headquarters. Other member of the delegation was Wilson Rikito Gbudwe, paramount chief of the area, who had left Yambio some few days earlier on short mission to Juba and Ethiopia.
The chief addressed the crowd during the meeting and appealed for calm and return to peace. Magaya quoted the paramount chief of the area as reportedly saying: “People of Western Equatoria state must listen to their leaders and as a traditional leader; no one should take arm from now even a step to fight because people of Western Equatoria state need peace as they are peaceful people.”
The delegation, he said, was accompanied to Juba airport by Jemma Nunu Kumba, national minister of water, electricity, dams and irrigation, who doubles as the chairperson of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) for the state. Lieutenant General James Ajonga Mawut Unguec, deputy chief of general staff for operations and himself, Boutros Magaya, spokesperson of Western Equatoria Leadership Council and Police Colonel Elia Kosta, Member of SPLM Leadership Council, representing Yamabio, were in membership.
On arrival the delegation met with the governor Joseph Bangasi Bakosoro, state leadership, youth and army and with groups who involved in the conflict in Yambio and asked them to immediately stop the conflict and cease any kind of hostilities for the sake of peace in the state.
The meeting which took place at Yambio branch of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) was concluded with prayers from Pastor from communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches in South Sudan who visited Yambio amidst conflict and is expected to conduct crusade next week about peace in South Sudan ahead of 17 August, 2015.
It was not clear what caused the fighting between the two communities involving elements of the army. Sources say two soldiers were found dead in a nearby village on Friday, prompting the army to retaliate by killing two motorist youth members, resulting to the fighting.
The army has been accusing elements of youth groups in the state of allegedly rebelling against president Salva Kiir’s government. Tensions have reportedly remained high on Sunday in the state capital.
(ST)