LRA fighters sighted five miles from Yambio
May 21, 2009 (LONDON) – Fighters suspected to be Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels have been sighted around Baguga, which is no more than five miles from the capital of Western Equatora state (WES), Yambio, on the way to Nzara using the short route of 12 miles.
The sightings follow the attack by LRA on Bakpara village of Nzara County on May 17, 2009, which killed two villagers and devastated surrounding villages. Hundreds of civilians especially women, children and the elderly have fled all the villages outside the towns of Nzara and Yambio from about five miles away from areas such as Siimbii, Buretiki and Baguga.
Charles Kisanga, a UK-based leader in the region’s Azande community, reported that a number of men in the “Arrow boys” defence groups have tried to remain behind to protect properties and ward off LRA attacks.
Among those who fled the area of Baguga is said to be the governor’s own adviser for agriculture, Mr. Makorondere.
“The fact that a WES cabinet minister is fleeing rather than standing his ground guarded by elite security forces has alarmed many and sent more shock waves throughout Yambio and Nzara. An adviser to the Ggvernor has the rank of a minister in the state cabinet,” commented Kisanga, who also heads the reformist SPLM Patriotic Organisation.
LRA, which previously fought in northern Uganda and eastern Equatoria, was driven farther west into DR Congo in recent years. Fearing prosecutions that could result from a peace settlement, the leadership of the cultic guerrilla force last year temporized, resulting in a failed multi-national offensive in December 2008 that scattered the fighters from encampments in Garamba National Park in the Congo.
Kisanga has voiced alarm at the lack of energy being put to confronting the LRA.
“Despite the fact that the governor’s own adviser has fled his house and is now literally a displaced person, the governor seems to be unconcerned by events around her in Yambio… there has been no word from WES Governor whether she can mobilise and command forces to go and face the LRA or she is going to be a sitting duck until the LRA arrive Yambio,” he said.
The Sudan People’s Liberation Army, which is the official army of Southern Sudan since the interim constitution of 2005, faced the LRA during its 22 year struggle with the Sudan Armed Forces. During the period when the LRA was most ascendant, in the mid to late 1990s, the LRA contributed to cutting off SPLA from Uganda. But today the ill-paid SPLA soldiers reportedly have rarely mobilized to confront the Ugandan guerrillas, except in informal cooperation with the Arrow Boys.
(ST)
Nal Dit Kum
LRA fighters sighted five miles from Yambio
As long as white hair Abel Alair is involved in these election efforts, nothing will turn out right. Abel Alair who betrayed southern Sudan in the 1972 peace agreement according to some of my friends here in Cairo, Egypt should not be let to head the election commission because of his historical background betraying the South in 1972.
He will be manipulated in his own interest to betray the South again in 2011 if he’s not dismiss from this post.
Dear President, Vic-president, and other key leaders in southern Sudan, please take this issue seriously. Bring this issue into question with the knowledge that Abel Alair should not be trusted 100% to not betray the South again. You should bring into question his credibility and trust in the process.
If possible, he should be dismiss from this post and appoint somebody trust worthy. Or two people should be appointed into this post. I just don’t trust this bastard Dinka bor white hair. He’s old. He should be retired.
Juba Lira
LRA fighters sighted five miles from Yambio
are They [LRA] Get Mad indeed to reach Dinka Land. they will finsih within a minutes. you know we like fighting so my message to LRA you leave women of Equatoria and come to Dinka land you will not survived in a minute.
for Dinka women run but Boys remind for fighting, why all people in Yambio run???
Juba lira in Juba,
AUGUSTINO DENG
LRA fighters sighted five miles from Yambio
What is wrong really with LRA? I thought that EQUATORIAN REBEL MOVEMENT of Mr Logic Boy, has emerged an attack on the LRA. Where is ERM force in which Equatorian people thinks will fight with LRA of Joseph Konyi?
Words of mouth Mr Logic Boy of Equatora without doing it practically, never secceed at all. You always proud yourself that you are the Chairman of an ERM. But, what happen now in Yambio? Mr Logic Boy, why your party so called EQUATORIAN REBEL MOVEMENT doesn’t carried an assault to the LRA? Simply, the answer is because you are a coward “wetlock child” who don’t know how to fight with the enemy.
Shame on you Mr LOGIC BOY. YOU ARE VERY FEEBLE TO THE EXTEND THAT YOUR MOUTH IS THE ONLY ONE THAT WILL HELP YOU.
Juba Lira
LRA fighters sighted five miles from Yambio
I wonder how can big incumbents run away like that, they run like frightening rats, is it not good to stand firm with oyur community and face death or fihgt them back since they are few people of 20 people, Iam appealing to Mighty Dinka so that they will rescue our coward like logic James James.to crush them once and for all.
please runnnig does not save you.
the only shield for Southerners is Dinka and Nuers sometime becaue I fought with them in front line and they participate very well not like Equatorians
Juba lira can teach young dogs of Equatoria.
Thondet Manyang
LRA fighters sighted five miles from Yambio
Why not GOSS/SPLA to response bitterly to these stupid LRA while our people are finishing especially Equatorian children and women.
Oh God!!! let Southerners be free. What this army protecting???
But inward, I am so sick of this guy called BIG-LOGIC-BOY. This is his right time to take up his army against LRA if you don`t response you are nothing.
I am now aware that you are Equatorian which is good.
If I were you, you cann`t voice out what can affect your commmunity and you too.
Why don`t you say something here again????????? You are crazy.
Achuil Manyuat Tong
LRA fighters sighted five miles from Yambio
What the Failed LRA is doing is totally wrong.the should go back to their Country Uganda and leave southerners Alone. iam appealing to to the SPLA to resuce the brothers.
TO ALL THOSE WHO COMMENT WRONGLY SUCH AS LOGIC.
it is time you look at what it mean to be foolish.you always waste your time posting agains Dinka.
look at what is happening in yambio .do you have any possibility of helping your community.Stop posting useless thing on the site it was not mean for that use .
Dinka Aliap Chawul
LRA fighters sighted five miles from Yambio
These Yambio youths must stands up to face these bastard Acholi-LRA cowards gangstars inorder to gives basic security helps to their community in the villages.No government can watch all day and night on what will happen to you in close door.LRA are not well arms to defeats braves local warriors of Yambio, i wish i was there to give you some advize on how these guyz are to be ambush.If u leave behinds your little children,elders & women then who nexts will defends them? please protects your community images.
pata mike
LRA fighters sighted five miles from Yambio
The LRa depredations are bound to continue. It must be noted that this is a very cunning group and it is not one that should be taken for a joke. One point is that the moment you start thinking about LRA , you are already in their den unable to escape.. The Azande are unable to withstand teh LRA evn with the arrow personnel , moreover it was teh LRA that invented the arrow boys many years ago. Also tribal differences and animosity in southern sudan euips LRA with accidental alliances and unnatural friends.
Mr. Rat Rebites
LRA fighters sighted five miles from Yambio
I should say LRA in baguga are this Nyinyaam boys of Azande themselves. how can Acholi of Uganda come to sudan yesterday and know all the directions of the azande until they had to avoid going through Yambio to Nzara. It could be right when they are in Eastern equatoria coz they were there for over 20 years.
Since there are sparing employment opportunities in South Sudan, the youth has resorted to looting in the Name of LRA.
Azande and other tribes in the Yambio and Nzara road should sweat to bring peace in the state, they are fond of hating other tribes in their land and they cannot depend it.
manyok kon
LRA fighters sighted five miles from Yambio
Hi southern sudan,
Who is LRA where does it belong and how come that they found around our area? I heard that they once kill people in Yambio, so what are our reactions over that? should our people be attack tommorrow or we leave them the land we are in no body will answer that but to go on action. we don’t know who they are but with influence of the fear that they are in our country.
God may back us up for the struggle of peace in our country is my prayers “amen”