South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"

By Waure Eddy
The Network for Civil Society Organizations (NeCSOs) in Western Equatoria State has issued a passionate appeal to both the state and national government to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in Tambura County.
The appeal comes in response to a surge in human rights abuses, including targeted killings, kidnappings, and widespread displacement.
The Acting Chairperson for NeCSOs, Odetha Miwai, in a statement on Tuesday detailed a series of violent incidents that began in late October 2024, where youth were killed, and several others injured.
The violence has intensified in recent weeks, with reports of brutal killings, assaults, and arson, leaving thousands displaced in neighboring counties, including Nagero, Ezo, and Yambio.
From December 4th to the 15th, 2024, a wave of attacks included the killing of civilians, including a young boy in Mabia, and violent assaults on women. Cases of kidnapping, burning of homes, and deadly shootings—such as one incident at St. Mary Catholic Parish have further exacerbated the humanitarian crisis.
Civil society organizations strongly condemned these acts, emphasizing that such violence is unprecedented in the culture of Western Equatoria State.
They urged armed groups to end hostilities and pursue peaceful solutions to their differences, adding that innocent civilians must not bear the brunt of conflict.
“Our message to the armed groups is clear: cease the hostilities and seek peaceful and legal resolutions to your differences,” they said.
They commended the state government’s recent peace initiatives, including the visit of a peace delegation led by the Deputy Governor of Western Equatoria State to Tambura County.
However, they also criticized local authorities in Tambura County for their silence and inaction in holding perpetrators accountable.
In addition, they called for establishing settlements for displaced persons (IDPs), halting incitement of tribal conflicts by politicians and diaspora, and fostering peaceful dialogue between conflicting communities.
The appeal was officially copied to key national and state leaders, including President Salva Kiir, Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, and regional representatives.
The CSOs expressed hope that decisive action would bring peace to Tambura County before the Christmas season.
As the humanitarian crisis continues to unfold, all eyes are on South Sudan’s leadership to address the violence and restore calm to Tambura County.