Ceasefire monitors urge deployment of peace forces in Wonduruba after SSPDF killings

JUBA – South Sudan’s peace monitoring Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) on Thursday urged the government to deploy unified forces to Wonduruba Administrative Payam following the recent killing of civilians.

The latest incident occurred on November 7, 2024, when three family members were allegedly killed by SSPDF soldiers in Wonduruba. Eyewitnesses, and prominent Church leader Benjamin Yukusuf, reported that a man, his wife, and their 7-year-old son were killed at their home.

This incident follows the killings of 20 civilians on October 9 in the same area by armed men believed by the locals “without doubts” to be from the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF).

The violence erupted after a clash between a government-affiliated militia led by Gen. Kenyi Abdu, also known as Kenyi Warrior, and the National Salvation United Forces (NSUF), led by Gen. Kenyi Loburon, in Logoko Boma, near Wonduruba town.

The attack, which left four people wounded by machetes, occurred shortly after a visit by Central Equatoria State Governor Gen. Augustino Jadalla Kamilo to Wonduruba. Locals said that forces loyal to Kenyi Warrior carried out the attack on civilians because they were angered over their defeat by the NAS faction.

Speaking during a monthly CTSAMVM meeting in Juba on Thursday, Maj. Gen. Yitayal Gelaw Bitew, chairperson of the peace-monitoring mechanism, said they are awaiting results of the investigation into the killings.

“The investigation into the killings of civilians in Wonduruba has generated significant anticipation from CTSAMVM. The CTSAMVM Technical Committee (CTC) and the CTSAMVM Board are eager to receive the report,” Maj. Gen. Gelaw said.

Gelaw condemned the recent confrontation between armed youth and SSPDF forces in Nasir County, Upper Nile State and called on the two major political-military organizations active in the area to stop their roles in the local conflicts.

“CTSAMVM urges SPLM-IG and the SPLM-IO to stop what is going on in Nasser because the people that are dying in Nasser are South Sudanese citizens. So, let us not use that. I’m urging them, both of them, to send a delegation to Nasser to stop that,” he said.

Gen. Gelaw further called on the signatories to the 2018 revitalized peace agreement and those involved in other peace negotiations on the world’s youngest country to seek peaceful resolutions to all issues.

Maj. Gen. Bior Leek Kuareng, SPLM-FDs representative to the peace monitoring organization, emphasized the need for the government to deploy the graduated unified forces to intervene in areas with insecurity, including Nasir County and Wonduruba.

Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Jany Kaway Yoakhor, representative of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) to the CTSAMVM, assured the public of the parties’ commitment as the ceasefire continues to hold, despite challenges in the implementation of the agreement.