S. Sudan government accuses rebels of killing 10 civilians in Unity state
October 8, 2015 (MAYOM) – Authorities from Mayom county in South Sudan’s Unity state say forces loyal to the designated first vice president Riek Machar of having allegedly killed 10 people, including three women and two children in Wangkei West on Thursday.
The commissioner accused the armed opposition forces of carrying out rampart attacks on civilian positions, while allegedly abandoning areas occupied by government forces.
He said over 150 armed opposition were responsible for Thursday’s attack in Wangkei payam, allegedly with the aim of looting civilian’s properties.
Mayak also accused the armed opposition for failing to respect the signed peace accord.
More than 15 rebels were killed and one person captured alive, in an attempt to attack in Wangkei payam on Thursday, adding the groups have killed 10 civilians, [raided] 50 cows and went away with another 80 herds of cattle’s, the commissioner told Sudan Tribune.
The official further appealed for peace, saying the armed opposition forces were still on an aggression showing their lack of commitments towards the peace implementation.
“Yesterday the traders walk away with 300 herds of cattle’s from Bentiu toward Mayom. As they approached a certain location, the rebels attacked them and managed to go away with 150 cows,” he said.
Mayak blamed rebel leader Machar for allegedly failing to instruct his group to honor the peace agreement they signed with South Sudane government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
“The rebels are always on offensive, and this has indicated that they lack command. Now if they continue attacking us, it means Riek Machar is out of control on the group,” he added.
He said government was fully committed to work with the rebel leader as the first vice president of South Sudan while doubting the opposition’s commitment to peace.
“We know some of these rebels groups are not in line with peace, but our question is why do they fight when Machar has already inked the deal? Some of these rebels are in Kaljak, Gezira and many surrounding areas in Rubkotna county and none of them has been fired back at because of their violations,” stressed the Mayom commissioner.
Sudan Tribune was unable to independently verify the commissioner’s claims on the attack.
(ST)