Arrow boys accuse gov’t forces of shooting WES’s Tombora commissioner

November 6, 2015 (NAIROBI) – The leader of the armed civilian fighters in Western Equatoria state, known as the Arrow Boys, has accused government troops loyal to president Salva Kiir of shooting the commissioner of Tombora county this week.

Mbiko Barakat, chairman of the Arrow Boys in a statement on Friday said Tombora county commissioner, Charles Bobiro, was shot on Tuesday by suspected elements of the South Sudanese army (SPLA) while he was on a peace mission.

“We condemn government forces for shooting the commissioner of Tombora County in Western Equatoria state while on a peace mission. The commissioner, Charles Babiro, was shot, but survived on 3rd of November when gunmen suspected to be SPLA elements attacked him,” Barakat said.

The incident, he said, occurred after the commissioner’s attempt to make peace between a unit of the SPLA and armed civilian youth of the Arrow Boys.

A day earlier before the incident, SPLA and Arrow Boys, he explained, had misunderstanding that resulted to serious quarrel between the two groups in Sar Sibu area at the border with Central African Republic (CAR).

In an attempt to restore peace in the area between the two groups, the commissioner accompanied by a paramount chief of the area later on fell into ambush on the road on their way back to Tombora after speaking to the two groups to avoid clashes.

Barakat also accused forces of the Ugandan People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) for interfering in the internal conflict by attacking and controlling the area.

A contingent of the UPDF, he said, crossed from the CAR and attacked the border area of Sar Sibu inside the territory of South Sudan, dislodging both the SPLA and Arrow Boys from the town.

UPDF has remained in control of the area, he said.

(ST)