Gunfire continue in Eastern Equatoria as cattle keepers terrorize villagers

JUBA – Fighting between villagers and cattle keepers from Jonglei state has continued after pastoralists went on to attack villagers at Abara Panyikwara in Eastern Equatoria state.

This comes days after the spokesman of Bor Community Youth Association (BCYA), Dr. Bior Kwer Bior, claimed in a statement that elements belonging to National Salvation Front (NAS) attacked a cattle camp in Eastern Equatoria.

Speaking to Sudans Post on Wednesday night, a resident of Abara said villagers are fleeing the area and were going to Magwi, Owiny Ki Bul and Torit in the wake of continued attack by the cattle keepers.

“As I speak to you, fighting is ongoing and civilians in Abara Panyikwara are running for their lives because the attack is very intensive and are unable to stay because they (cattle keepers) are killing people,” the resident who requested anonymity said.

“The civilians are mostly women, children and the elderly people. This is another war imposed on the people of Eastern Equatoria state and we hold the government of President Salva Kiir responsible,” the resident added.

He denied claims that the National Salvation Front (NAS) launched attack against the cattle keepers in the area saying there are no elements belonging to the rebel group in Eastern Equatoria state.

“The reports and claims that there is NAS of General Cirilo in our area is false. There are no rebels here in Eastern Equatoria and the people making those claims want to divert attention for their crimes to people who are not even here,” he added.

In a statement on Sunday, Dr. Bior Kwer Bior, the Chairperson of Bor Community Youth Association (BCYA), claimed elements belonging to General Thomas Cirilo’s forces attacked civilians at an IDP cattle camp in Eastern Equatoria state resulting in the killing of at least 20 people and 15 others.

Bur reacting to the allegation, the spokesman of the National Salvation Front (NAS) Suba Samuel Manasse, said there is no anything of that kind and accused the chairperson of Bor youth group of spreading propaganda with the aim of tarnishing the image of the holdout rebel group.

NAS categorically denounce this baseless accusation and propaganda and condemns it in strongest terms possible the lies being peddled by this ethnic association,” Suba said in a statement quoted by Sudan Tribune.