(aa.com.tr)
JUBA, South Sudan
Even two-and-half years later, when warring groups in South Sudan signed a peace agreement to end a decades-old war, the insecurity still haunts the people in the landlocked African country.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Aluong Daniel, 25, said his Baidit village in Bor West County in Jonglei province continues to witness violent attacks.
“It is instilling fear among the local population. I have lost five of my close relatives in the recent attacks that claimed the lives of over 30 people in Baidit. It was not the first attack,” he said.
Daniel claimed that these attackers were from Pibor County located in the eastern part of the country bordering Ethiopia.
He said that several villagers have migrated to safer places and have left villages deserted due to such attacks.
“The only solution is for the government to beef up security strengthen justice mechanism so that perpetrators are punished,” he said.
Daniel said that it is difficult for people to move freely without fear despite the end of the war.
The Jonglei province, which comprises nine counties housing 1.2 million population with 272 kilometers (169 miles) from the capital Juba, has been reeling under incidents of cattle stealing and abduction of children by armed gangs.
“The Jonglei State government has requested Juba to help improve security in the region. We have also asked the chief administrator of Pibor region to apprehend criminals and disarm them to avoid a repeat of such incident,” Veronica William, the Jonglei state's information minister, told Anadolu Agency.
The Juba’s intervention was sought after armed youth suspected to be from Murle in Pibor on January 22 attacked Baidit Payam of Bor County killing 32 people and injuring 26 others. Six of the attackers were also reported to have been killed, raising the death toll to 38.
“The incident that happened is bad, we have beefed up security to protect civilians because civilians are afraid, they have run away, and they have taken away women and children and cows,” said William.
Peace conferences
In November last year, nine people were killed in two separate incidents in Bor town.
Over the past one-year communities from both Jonglei and Pibor have been convening peace and reconciliation conferences to put a stop to violence, cattle stealing, and revenge killings.
Eva John, a resident of Yei River county, said that the rebels of Thomas Cirilio who did not sign the peace accord are threatening peace.
She said that rebels usually abducted people once they go out of town.
The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has also documented a surge of violence in Tambura, Western Equatoria regions between Azande and Balanda militias, allegedly affiliated with conventional parties to the conflict.
According to its preliminary findings, 240 deaths, 46 abductions, 59 victims subjected to sexual violence have taken place in the region, besides displacement of 80,000 people.
The report mentioned that most of the victims of violence were men (69%), followed by women (17%) and children (14%). Almost 79% of male victims were killed or injured while women more likely suffered sexual violence (47%). Children were primarily killed (54%) or abducted (39%) while at least eight underage girls were subjected to sexual violence.
Greater Pibor Administrative Information Minister Jay Adangor said that the inaccessibility and remoteness of affected counties like Gumuruk and Lekuangole was a major impediment to providing security.
He said insecurity was a major hindrance to providing delivery services as well. He added that there are rumors rife in the air about an imminent attack from the armed groups belonging to neighboring Jonglei State.
He said eight students, who were supposed to sit in the national examination were not able to leave the area due to insecurity.
Newer articles:
- Should Bangladesh Lease Land from South Sudan? - 11/02/2022 12:20
- Murle Armed Men From South Sudan Kill One, Abduct Three Children in Cross Border Raid: Gambella State Official - 11/02/2022 11:55
- South Sudan’s problem and what it must do - 11/02/2022 02:32
- Lakes state: 6 killed in clashes between security forces and suspected criminals - 11/02/2022 01:30
- Health ministry, partners launch ARV guidelines, data center in South Sudan - 11/02/2022 00:13
Older news items
- Sudan activists appeal for help for orphanage where 54 died - 10/02/2022 07:25
- African Union adopts Swahili as official working language - 10/02/2022 03:36
- South Sudan Azande kingdom restored after 117 years - 10/02/2022 01:36
- Resistance committees, a revolution from below in Sudan - 10/02/2022 01:21
- ‘This is not going to take him’: Respected South Sudanese elder hit by car, fights to recover - 10/02/2022 01:06
Latest news items (all categories):
- South Sudan needs ‘civic education’ before elections, says bishop - 16/01/2025 16:42
- South Sudan parties set to resume peace talks in Kenya - 16/01/2025 16:39
- Abandoned but not forgotten – the invisible crisis in South Sudan - 16/01/2025 16:35
- The SAF has committed barbaric atrocities against South Sudanese refugees in Wad Medani - 16/01/2025 16:27
- Syria 2025: The historical Syrian project: From revolution to a modern inclusive civil state - 16/01/2025 16:10
Random articles (all categories):
- South Sudan: What's going on - 24/12/2013 19:49
- Self-Determination and Secessionism in Somaliland and South Sudan - 23/06/2020 20:14
- Brief profile of Giant Political party In the Republic of South Sudan, Mighty SPLM - 16/09/2020 12:48
- The Church of Jesus Christ Increases Help to Sudanese Refugees - 20/09/2023 04:03
- If peace and stability is to return to South Sudan President Salva Kiir and Dr Riek Machar must be excluded from the interim government. - 04/02/2018 08:22
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 61674 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 22306 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 21492 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 19060 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 18794 times