SUDAN: South Sudan Army Accused of Killing and Raping Civilians in C. Equatoria

Southern Sudan army, the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) has been accused of killing and raping civilians in Central Equatoria state.

According to Nhial Bol, Chairman of the Editorial Board of the Juba-based The Citizen newspaper, in a news report he published on Monday, said residents of Terekeka County of Central Equatoria state have accused the forces of the SPLA of raping women and girls in their villages.

The army is also accused of killings and causing insecurity in the town. "SPLA soldiers always come at night searching for our wives and our daughters to rape," a resident was reported as saying.

He described the attitudes of the SPLA soldiers as “inhumane” following the disarmament in the area.

"We never experienced these inhumane practices [but] only after disarming us just two months ago that they had moved to rape our daughters and wives. They know we are weak to react," said another resident.

One elderly woman who claimed to be the only elder mother in town alleged that two soldiers entered her tukul and demanded sex and food, but she forced them to leave when she cried.

The Commissioner of Terekeka County, Clement Maring, said the deployment of over 2000 SPLA forces in the County without notice of the authorities was causing insecurity to the citizens.

He said he last week noticed the sudden deployment of the forces in the area from Yirol County in Lakes state without consulting him or the state governor, Clement Wani Konga.

The county commissioner said daily reports about harassment, rape cases and looting of shops has been a phenomenon creating life threats to the citizens.

He said a resident was shot dead last week but nothing has been done up to now.

Efforts to contact the forces commanding officer in Terekeka and comments from the SPLA official spokesman, Major General Kuol Deim Kuol, have failed.

"The Citizen [staff] contacted SPLA spokesman Gen. Kuol Deim who admitted that there are new forces in Terekeka town that returned from disarmament…but declined to comment on atrocities," revealed the report, saying he would only comment after further findings.

RENEWED INTER-STATES TRIBAL ATTACKS ON THE COUNTY

In a related development, renewed inter-states tribal joint attacks against the Mundari of Terekeka by cattle raiders from Dinka Bor of Jonglei state and Dinka Aliab of Yirol County in Lakes state were reportedly launched on Friday night.

Over 11,130 heads of cattle were confirmed looted, four people killed, five wounded and many others mostly children are still missing.

Coupled with acute hunger, several villages have been deserted as populations have scattered in the bushes, according to the published news report by Nhial Bol's led team that visited the area.

The villages affected include Yari, Wujunyani, Tukoro, Nyikabor, Gabota, Bale, Mijur, Maraka, Jayi, Babari, Bekat, Pojur, Buranga, Yabisa, Giging and Boko, among others.

“Our people are dispersed, suffering under trees in the bushes because of Dinka from Yirol and Bor,” said Paramount Chief of Muni Payam, Anderia Warnyang.

"We are suffering, people are sitting under trees and Dinka Aliab and Dinka Bor have raided us with guns. We want our cattle back," Warnyang said.

Residents and traditional leaders said the joint raiding by Dinka Bor and Dinka Aliab came soon after disarmament was concluded in the area.

SPLM Muni Payam representative said the two communities have now occupied most areas extending from Gumeza, Muni and Tombe Payams of Terekeka County.

He said local police had to withdraw after discovering dead bodies because of heavy presence of the raiders around Kejijuba Island of Muni Payam.

The authorities are worried that the coming elections may find people still scattered in the bushes where they are hiding and able to feed on wild foods.

"The elections exercise will not get voters in their respective villages because hunger situation and consistent cattle raiding are threatening their lives," said the area's Paramount Chief.

Commissioner of Terekeka County Clement Maring blamed the situation on the communities from Lakes and Jonglei states that have been involving in counter inter-communities attacks over the years.

Mundari community of Terekeka County, which is less than 50 kilometers away north of Juba town, the capital, is bordered by Bari in Central Equatoria state to the south, Dinka Bor of Jonglei state to the north and Dinka Aliab of Lakes state to the west.

Maring lamented that the people of his county have been disarmed; giving the neighboring communities an advantage to raid their cattle, which he said forced him to write a petition letter to the President.

"I wrote a letter to President of Government of Southern Sudan [Salva Kiir] through our state Governor [Clement Wani Konga] that disarmament should be extended to other neighboring areas that still remain a threat to our people," he added.