Despite peace accord, insecurity haunts villages in South Sudan

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.