YAMBIO – Calm has returned to Yambio, the capital of South Sudan’s Western Equatoria State, though reports of ongoing clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army In Opposition (SPLA-IO) emerged today.
Yambio and surrounding villages were gripped by panic after former Governor Alfred Futuyo Karaba fled into the forest following his dismissal in a presidential decree earlier this week.
A resident of Yambio, who spoke to Sudans Post on condition of anonymity, said the town has seen a return to normalcy after peace agreement parties, including SPLM and SPLM/A-IO, met to ease tensions.
“Yesterday, there was an announcement for children to go to school. This morning, I saw some students and pupils heading to school, and some workplaces and shops are operational,” the source said.
After Gen. Alfred Futuyo Karaba’s removal as governor, his house was attacked, prompting him to flee to his Cantonment Area in Rangu, which was later captured by the SSPDF.
This morning, security reports from the SPLA-IO indicated that SSPDF forces are still pursuing them in the bush and continue to launch attacks.
“We were attacked this morning at the Junction road, where we withdrew from Rangu. If war is declared in the town, we need to hear so that we can decide accordingly,” an SPLA-IO officer, who declined to be named, said.
Following the reshuffling of the South Sudanese government, the security situation has worsened, with the SSPDF continuing to target SPLA-IO bases across the country.
