Day: February 6, 2023

The extraordinary Summit of the East African Community (EAC) Heads of State over the weekend resolved that all troop-contributing countries to the East African Regional Force deploy troops to the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to help pacify the region.

The decision was taken at the 20th extraordinary Summit of the East African Heads of State held in Burundi’s capital, Bujumbura on Saturday.

“The Summit directed all troop-contributing countries to immediately deploy and urged DRC to immediately facilitate the deployment of troops from the Republic of South Sudan and the Republic of Uganda to the East African Regional Force,” the joint communique issued after the meeting read in part.

The meeting was attended by Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, DRC’s Felix Tshisekedi, Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, Kenyan president William Ruto and South Sudan’s EAC Affairs Minister, Deng Alor Kuol.

Burundi was the first EAC country to deploy troops in South Kivu to hunt down Red Tabara rebels who have been attacking settlements in Burundi.

Kenya would later deploy 900 troops in Goma in North Kivu.

South Sudan and Uganda were expected to deploy troops late last year however, this was yet to happen.

The summit observed that the security situation in eastern DRC is a Regional matter that can only be sustainably resolved through a political process and highlighted the need for enhanced dialogue among all parties.

The communique further reads that the Heads of State directed an immediate ceasefire by all parties, withdrawal including all foreign armed groups, and that violations be reported to the Chairperson of the Summit for immediate consultation with members of the Summit.

The 750-strong South Sudanese battalion expected to join a regional force fighting a rebel offensive in the eastern part of the DRC is yet to leave the country.

Last month, the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) spokesperson, Major General Lul Ruai Koang, told Radio Tamazuj that the force destined for DRC was in Mundri in Western Equatoria State processing their travel documents.

“They are there processing their travel documents, age assessments, nationality, and passports. So when they are done with processing of their documents that is when they will start being airlifted to Congo,” he said. “Most likely they will fly from Western Equatoria to Goma in DRC because there is no direct route.”

Asked when the army will travel, Gen. Ruai said, “I do not know but it will not take long because these people are not many. It won’t take long.

Source: Radio Tamazuj

The Central Equatoria State Government on Friday resolved to temporarily relocate all the heads of the various security organs at the headquarters in Juba to Kajokeji County following the recent incident that left over 20 people dead in Lire Payam.

While addressing journalists on Friday after an extra-ordinary state council meeting, the state’s information minister, Andruga Mabe Severio, said as a way to address the Kajo keji killings, the council directed security organs to continue pursuing the perpetrators and bring them to book.

“The council resolved that the state security organs relocate temporarily to manage the crisis effectively from the ground” Mabe revealed while condemning the killing of over 20 people on Thursday in Lire.

Fresh reports indicate that more bodies have been recovered bringing the death toll to 27.

According to Mabe, the council directed that security organs enforce the return of both cattle and herders to their areas of origin.

The state government further called for immediate humanitarian support to the communities affected by the conflict.

Minister Mabe said the cattle herders have adamantly and severally refused to obey orders to leave the state.

“The cattle herders adamantly refused to leave even with all these orders even right from the national government,” he said. “These orders are issued but even we are wondering why these people are refusing to move. They are defying the orders and we are asking why?”

The minister however said that this time the state government will forcefully evict the pastoralist and their cattle.

“I think this time it is going to happen because enough is enough,” he said.

Source: Radio Tamazuj

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), in a statement on Sunday said it was shocked to receive initial reports of the deadly violence in Kajo-Keji County (Central Equatoria State) that claimed the lives of at least 27 people and left many others injured on 2 February.

At least 2000 people, mainly women and children, have become internally displaced, including 30 unaccompanied children, UNMISS said.

“This violence is unacceptable and was in sharp contrast to the message of the Ecumenical Peace Pilgrimage to South Sudan, which called for peace and reconciliation. UNMISS calls on the authorities to heed the Ecumenical messages, urgently launch an investigation and hold perpetrators to account,” said Nicholas Haysom, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in South Sudan.

The mission also welcomed the government’s deployment of troops to the area to quell tensions and protect internally displaced persons.

UNMISS said it is increasing patrols to the affected areas and engaging the authorities and community leaders to end these hostilities and seek peaceful solutions.

“UNMISS is gravely concerned about the resurgence of killings and violence stemming from long-standing tensions between cattle keepers and host communities in Central Equatoria State and other parts of the country. Over the past two weeks, escalating violence has resulted in at least 45 deaths among unarmed civilians in Kajo-Keji and Mangalla Payam, among other areas in Central Equatoria.

“We urge South Sudanese leaders to encourage restraint and avoid fueling any conflict,” SRSG Haysom added.

Source: Radio Tamazuj

The authorities in Unity State have said that 6 school-going children were killed and a mother and her two children were abducted on Friday by armed youth suspected to be from Tonj North County in Warrap State.

John Bol Mayak, the Mayom County commissioner told Radio Tamazuj Sunday that the 4 boys and two girls were slain during the attack.

“Armed youth of Tonj North County’s Akop Payam killed 6 pupils, 4 boys, and 2 girls, on Friday, and they a mother, her 14- year- old girl, and an 8-month-old baby,” he said. “These people (abductees) were captured along the river and killed at Kuinam village as they were going to Riak Payam for primary eight mock examinations.”

Bol urged the authorities in Warrap State to trace and return the abductees.

“I do not have the phone number of the Tonj North County commissioner but I talked to the Gogrial East County commissioner about the issue and I reported this to my Governor Dr. Joseph Monytuil,” he said. “I am still calling upon the authorities in Warrap State to return the mother and her two children if they are still alive because their bodies were not found. Only the dead bodies of the 6 children were recovered.”

Meanwhile, David Jigjor, the Unity State acting information minister said he had heard about the incident.

“I heard that such things happened along the border of Mayom and other counties of Warrap State and that fishermen from Warrap State killed 6 people and abducted 3 people on Friday,” he said.

On his part, Ayok Malueth, the Tonj North County commissioner, confirmed the incident and said his security agents are investigating the issue.

“The security situation within my county is fine only that a few days ago, armed youth from one of my payams attempted to raid cattle but they were chased away by SSPDF,” he said. “With Mayom County, there is still flood water along the border but I heard of the killings and abductions and deployed security personnel on the Tonj North-Mayom border and within the county to investigate.”

5 killed, 5 injured in Twic County

Relatedly, local authorities in Warrap State said on Saturday that armed youth suspected to be from Mayom County in Unity State attacked Bombil village in Ajak Kuach Payam of Twic County on Friday and killed 5 people, wounded 5, and torched villages.

Mangok Kom, the Twic County acting commissioner, told Radio Tamazuj over the weekend that the attackers came from Mayom County in Unity State and local youth later repulsed them.

“The armed youth from Mayom attacked Twic County and the Titweng armed youth repulsed them before the attackers crossed the river towards Biemnhom,” he explained. “The attackers killed 2 youths, 2 children, and their mother and they have also wounded 5 people who are now receiving treatment at the MSF health facility in Mayen Abun.”

Commissioner Kom said the local youth captured a rocket-propelled grenade launcher and 2 machine guns from the attackers.

Meanwhile, William Wol Mayom, the Warrap State information minister, confirmed the clashes.

“On the 3 February, the assailants believed to have come from Unity State attacked Bombil village in Ajak Kuach Payam,” he said. “The number of people killed was more than 3 including children, a mother, and others were wounded and houses were burned to ash.”

The minister said security will be restored in the area when the governors of Unity and Warrap state and the Abyei chief administrator hold a planned inter-state peace meeting in Juba soon.

On his part, John Bol Mayak, Unity State’s Mayom County commissioner, denied that armed youth from his area attacked the neighboring Twic County in Warrap State.

“It is not true! Mayom County does not have a problem with Twic. Instead, Abyei and Twic have their border problems and there are no Mayom people involved in Twic-Abyei clashes,” he said. “Also, Stephen Buoi’s rebel forces are there in the bushes of Ngok and these might be the people who attacked because they even killed the former commissioner of Mayom County last year.”

“If the assailants were from Mayom, they would have used the Kortong route to attack Twic County,” he added.

He said the people of Mayom and Twic County trade and have good relations.

Source: Radio Tamazuj