First Vice President and the Commander-in-Chief of SPLA-IO Dr Riek Machar on Wednesday, July 14, directed politicians and army commanders from Western Equatoria State to resolve the violence that led to the death of eight people in Tombura County.
Violence erupted in Tombura last month leading to the killing of eight civilians, among other atrocities like rape against women. The group that carried out the attack is yet to be identified. However, Governor of Western Equatoria State, Alfred Futuyo Karaba, accused four politicians from the government side of fueling the violence in the area.
Dr Machar’s directive came days after he met a group of politicians drawn from the Western Equatoria State over the nagging insecurity issue. They included Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Jemma Nunu Kumba, area governor Alfred Futuyo Karaba, area deputy governor Kennedy Ganiko, and former governor for defunct Gbudue state Patrick Raphael Zamoi, Gen. James Nando Mark, Gen. Wesley Welebe and law enforcement officials from the area.
Relocation of offices
Dr Machar also gave a directive for relocation of the SPLM/A (IO) forces in Namatina and Zamoi to Lii-Rangu and the forces loyal to Gen. Nando to be relocated from Yambio Airstrip and Source-Yubo to Maridi under the direct command of SSPDF Division Six.
He further directed Gen. Nando to work jointly with governor Futuyo to ensure the success of the relocation of the ‘aforementioned forces as well as provision of food, health-care and transportation to both forces at the suggested relocation centres’.
The FVP said the leadership of the state, including the command, should conduct the training for all state law enforcement agencies and repatriation of IDPs affected by the recent violence in Tombura County to their homes. He also recommended a leadership conference for the leadership and people of Western Equatoria to address their grievances after the relocation of the forces in question.
He assured the leadership of Western Equatoria his full support to ‘realise the aspirations of the people of the state for peace, security and prosperity.