JUBA – Fierce fighting broke out on Wednesday morning between forces loyal to two commanders who were previously members of the opposition National Salvation Front (NAS) led by General Thomas Cirilo Swaka.
Forces belonging to the former NAS commander, Gen. Kennedy Kenyi Abdu, also known as Kenyi Warrior, who defected to the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) in June last year, clashed with forces belonging to a NAS splinter group led by John Kenyi Lotio at Logoko Boma of Wonduruba Payam of central Equatoria state.
John Kenyi Lotio, also known as Kenyi Loburon, defected from the Cirilo-led NAS mainstream to form a splinter faction known as National Salvation United Front Forces (NSUF). He has not joined the SSPDF and has continued to operate independently.
Speaking to Sudans Post on Thursday evening, multiple local sources said the fighting, which began during the morning hours of Wednesday, resulted in the killing of at least nine soldiers from the SSPDF and an unknown number of soldiers from the NSUF rebels.
Nine civilians were killed and several others, between 17 and 20, wounded.
According to the locals, clashes broke out immediately after Central Equatoria State Governor Augustino Jadalla Wani left Wonduruba following tours that included many areas, including Wonduruba Administrative Payam.
“General Kenyi Warrior’s forces were engaged in clashes with the National Salvation United Front Forces (NSUF) under Gen. Kenyi Loburon in Logok Boma (Logwerele area). It started from the morning yesterday and ended with the defeat of General Kenyi Warrior’s forces,” said one local on condition of anonymity.
According to security sources in Juba, Kenyi Warrior’s vehicle was later destroyed when it fell into an ambush laid by NSUF elements while on his way to Lainya to procure medicine for his wounded soldiers.
Locals confirmed the incident and alleged that the ambush then prompted Warrior to wage a targeted attack on civilians of the area for alleged involvement in the ambush, killing at least ten people when the locals tried to prevent the arrest of relatives.
When contacted by Sudans Post, Amule Jongolose, an MP representing Wonduruba in the transitional parliament, condemned the clashes and termed the attack on civilians as “barbaric” and a “massacre” against innocent civilians.
“We therefore urge the national government and Central Equatoria State government to investigate and bring those perpetrators to book and justice immediately,” he stated.
The lawmaker called on the army to ensure equal protection and treatment rights of citizens as well as investigate violations.
“I know that the governor’s tour of six countries and Wonduruba administrative Payam had been disorganized with this unfortunate, tragic killing and harm inflicted upon innocent youth/citizens of CES,” Jongolose noted.
When contacted by Sudans Post, SSPDF spokesperson Maj-Gen Lul Ruai confirmed the incident but could not provide figures for soldiers who were killed or injured.
