Western Equatoria: Calm returns to Tambura as army transports Gen. Nando to Juba

JUBA – South Sudan’s Western Equatoria State Minister of Information, William Adriano Baikai said calm has returned to Tombura County after the former SPLA-IO commander, General James Nando who joined SSPDF last year was flown to Juba on Sunday.

Tombura County has for the past few months witnessed violent clashes involving forces loyal to Gen. James Nando and the SPLA-IO soldiers.

More than 200 people have been killed and over 80,000 civilians displaced mostly women and children, destruction of private and public property, and the suspension of humanitarian operations.

The conflict has forced residents to flee for safety to neighboring towns and villages.

Speaking to Sudans Post this afternoon from Yambio, Minister Adriano said Gen. Nando was flown to Juba on Sunday by the SSPDF deputy division commander.

“Gen. Nando went to Juba on Saturday and arrived in Juba at 11 am. They went to Juba together with the Deputy Division Commander of the SSPDF Maj. Gen. Akech Adam,” Adriano told Sudans Post reporter in Juba via phone.

“After all the forces of Gen. Nando left Tombura including the forces of the SPLA-IO and Nando himself went to Juba a few days ago,” Adriano added.

He said markets in Tombura have reopened after nearly four months of closure due to recurrent violence in the county.

“Calm has returned to the area and all the markets in Tombura have been opened already and people are going about their normal lives. There are goods coming from Wau and vehicles coming from Yambio going to Tombura,” he said.

Information Minister said the state government has also deployed the SSPDF forces along the roads leading to Tombura to maintain security.