Five suspected gunmen have been arrested in Western Equatoria state for what the authorities call ‘obstruction of peace’.

The 5 men were apprehended by armed group affiliated to the government in the state.

The armed group said the suspects were caught in Yambio for undermining the peace agreement it signed with the SPLA.

The group is said to have been active in Gangaru payam, where former speaker James Bage Elisha was shot dead in August on his way back to Yambio.

The suspects have been handed over to the state authorities and are being kept under police custody.

Richard Badagbu, the mayor of Yambio town, said the suspects will be brought before a court.

“We’re soon going to prosecute them in the court of law. They are suspects but we have heard credible information from them; they have also told us about their network, how many people are involved and how these things are happening and this is really giving us a green light,” he said.

There have been reports of clashes between the group and the SPLA in the last few months until the two sides signed a deal last month to cease hostilities.