Armed group attacks Makpandu in Western Equatoria state

An unknown armed group attacked a police post in Makpandu, a village in Western Equatoria state’s Yambio county on Thursday night, according to sources in the area.

An unknown armed group attacked a police post in Makpandu, a village in Western Equatoria state’s Yambio county on Thursday night, according to sources in the area.

One woman was gang-raped during the incident, authorities said. The armed group stole guns from the police and also abducted at least one person but no one was killed, according to sources.

Authorities said many people fled Makpandu after the incident though some have begun to return home. The incident has been blamed on non-government armed groups residing in the bush.

Makpandu is about 35 km east of Yambio town and is also the site of a refugee camp hosting over 3,000 people from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Yambio county is home to multiple South Sudanese armed groups who are at odds with the government SPLA forces.