First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar meets in Juba with leaders from Western Equatoria state on July 14, 2021. Credit| First Vice President Office's Press Unit

The Office of the First Vice President says it does not have the resources to facilitate dialogue and restore security in Tambura County of Western Equatoria state.

According to the spokesperson in the office of Dr. Riek Machar, the unrest in Tambura requires the collective effort of both national and state governments.

“As you are all aware that for the past two years the country has been running without a budget, and this is a critical challenge.”

At least 11 people have been killed in the renewed fighting in the villages surrounding Tambura town.

The deadly attacks have also led to the killing of the former Commissioner of Tambura County and displaced hundreds of civilians.

Most of the women displaced to Yambio County are wondering why the government has not intervened to stop the ongoing killing, looting, and destruction of property.

In July, a meeting between the First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar with the political and military leaders from the state resolved to convene a conference in Tambura to address the grievances.

It also agreed to provide food, shelter, and healthcare to the people affected by the violence in Tambura County.

But the acting Press Secretary in the Office of the First Vice President said there is no money to implement some of the resolutions.

“The Ministry of Finance should release the budget so that all these resolutions are implemented on the ground,” Puok Both appealed on Wednesday.

Between June and July, over 20 people were reportedly killed in separate attacks in the areas of Source Yubu, Akpa, Mabenge, Kpatanayo, and other locations in Tambura County.

According to the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission in Western Equatoria state, nearly 28,000 people have been displaced.

They escaped the killings in Source Yubu, Akpa, Mabenge, Kpatanayo, and other locations in Tambura County.

The IDPs are currently in Nagero, Ezo, Nzara, and Yambio.

Puok Both said there is a need for joint efforts to address the security and the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the area.

“We need to preach peace and disseminate peace in this community so that they can stop this violence,” he stated, adding that “we as the SPLA-IO and the other partners to the agreement and the government, in general, should have picked this critically so that we can end the violence in that area.”

The Relief and Rehabilitation Commission in Western Equatoria state is appealing to the government and humanitarian partners to respond to the crisis in Tambura.