A part of Tambura town in April 2019 | Credit | Charles Wote/Eye Radio

Tambura County commissioner has accused a section of the SPLA-IO of carrying out the latest attacks on civilians in the area, an allegationthe opposition denied.

On Monday, Tambura County Commissioner said at least 11 people have been killed in the renewed fighting in the villages surrounding Tambura town.

Dozens of people have also been displaced.

“As of now, the SPLA-IO is almost in every part of Tambura because they came from Wau. They are not from Tambura here,” Mathew Mabenge told Eye Radio on Monday.

“The fact is that, the Zande and Balanda communities are living in cohesion, but what we have seen now is the SPLA-IO are the ones attacking Tambura.”

The violence resumed on Saturday after the body of an officer of the Criminal Investigation Department was found a day after he went missing.

The latest deaths add to more than 20 other people who were killed between June and July 2021.

The attacks were reported mostly in Source Yubu, Akpa, Mabenge, Kpatanayo, among others.

More than 21,000 people mainly women and children have already sought refuge in Tambura town and the neighboring counties.

The situation, according to Mabenge, has worsened after four more people were killed Monday morning.

He blamed a section of SPLA IO forces for the attacks on civilians.

In response, a senior member of the SPLM-IO in Western Equatoria State refuted the allegations.

William Baiki, state minister of information, instead accused the paramount chief of Tambura and the commissioner of instigating the violence.

“The group of these armed youth loyal to the paramount chief went and started attacking the areas and burning some houses and also setting a roadblock,” Baiki claimed.

“Leave alone the issue of Balanda or what, the issue is food. They have started looting from the civilians – eating their goats and eating their chickens. So, the civilians left.”

Commissioner Mabenge, however, denied provoking the situation.

He stated that:

“This situation is provoked by the SPLA-IO because whenever they attack, the local youth are there to respond in self-defense. This is what is happening. There is nothing like the paramount chief and I are having forces.”

Eye Radio has been unable to independently verify the reports.

The Inter-church Council and Inter-faith Council for Peace Initiative in Western Equatoria state have urged politicians to stop manipulating people by using what they term as “irresponsible comments and incitement.”

They call on the state government and national government to address the rapid increase and expansion of the breakdown of the law and order in Tambura.

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

It also recommended the relocation of the SPLA-IO forces in Namatina and Zamoi to Rii-Rangu.

It also agreed to relocated forces loyal to General James Nando from Yambio Airstrip and Source-Yubo to Maridi under the direct command of the SSPDF Division Six.

The meeting further agreed to provide food, shelter, and healthcare to the people affected by the violence in Tambura County.