An activist has called on President Salva Kiir to take immediate action to end the rising inter-communal violence in Warrap State, following Saturday’s attack in Ngapagok, Tonj East County, which left four people dead and 16 others injured.
Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community
Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), condemned the killings and said
that although the violence is often labeled as inter-communal or
revenge-related, it is politically driven and poses a serious threat to
civilian lives and property.
“These deadly incidents are very bad and are making our
citizens pay a high price for things that do not benefit any of the warring
parties among the communities, though we term them as intercommunal violence or
revenge attack, they are politically motivated,” Yakani stated.
Yakani called for urgent intervention from the highest
office, stressing that the people of Warrap cannot continue suffering while the
violence persists.
“I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to his
excellency president the situation of Warrap state require robust response
because we are losing innocent lives of citizens, we have seen destruction of
property, and this means a lot in terms of safety and security and protection
of civilians in Warrap state particularly Tonj region,” Yakani said.
Yakani urged the Warrap governor to take a proactive
approach and called on communities to resolve differences peacefully, not
through violence.
“I think the governor needs to take a proactive role and to
ensure that this violence is stopped and I like to urge the communities who are
conflicting in Warrap state and specifically the bell of Tonj to abstain from
using violence as a way of resolving their differences. You better resolve your
differences through dialogue,” he added.
The activist stated that CEPO is documenting the situation
and will eventually hold accountable those fueling the violence, regardless of
rank.
“We are watching, we are documenting, one day, one time we
will name those individuals who are fueling this violence in the region of Tonj
and specifically in Warrap state. So, we like to appeal to you as our leaders
that abstain yourself from fueling violence on the ground. Whoever you are,
whatever rank you are holding, whatever political title you're holding, you are
not above the law,” he warned.
Warrap State, the home of President Salva Kiir, has long
been plagued by cycles of revenge attacks, particularly in the counties of
Gogrial, Twic, and Tonj.
These clashes are believed to have often been fueled by politicians who arm their supporters under the pretext of protecting livestock from cattle raiders.