South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
The ceasefire monitors expressed on Thursday deep concern over the deteriorating security situation in Tambura County of Western Equatoria State located South West of the capital.
Maj.Gen. Yitayal Gelaw Bitew, Chairperson of the Ceasefire &Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Verification & Mechanism (CTSAMVM), said the security situation in the restive Tambura County remains concerning following the attempted assassination of the County Commissioner on November 28,2024.
“CTSAMVM is concerned about the deteriorating security situation in Tambura County. One man was killed in what was assessed to be an attempt on the life of the Tambura County Commissioner,” Gelaw said during the meeting of CTSAMVM members in Juba.
Armed people shelled the residence of Tambura County Commissioner, Mathew Mabenge, with a rocket- propelled grenade leaving one person killed.
“This represents a concerted attempt to remove an official from office and undermine peace and security in Western Equatoria,” Gelaw said.
Tambura County has been experiencing ethnically motivated fighting since June 2021, which drew in the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in opposition (SPLA-IO) to fight on opposite sides of the conflict.
On November 8, 2024, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) ramped up peacekeeping patrols following reports of mobilization of armed groups which have increased tensions and fear among local communities in Tambura County.
In addition, Gelaw said that soldiers belonging to SSPDF and SPLA-IO have vacated two public institutions previously occupied in Central Equatoria State.
“Under the arrangements of Article 2.2.3.1 of the R-ARCSS, two civilian areas, Kirwa Health Facility and Bori Primary School, located in Central Equatoria State, have been confirmed as vacated,” he said.
Gelaw said that the occupation of civilian buildings as provided for in Chapter 2 of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) is considered a violation of the agreement.
“Vacation of these buildings is a positive step towards compliance with the implementation process and the provisions of the R-ARCSS,” he said.
