The Central Equatoria Internal Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan (ECSS) has declared 30 days of mourning for the 27 civilians who were killed by armed men in Wonduruba Administrative Payam in Central Equatoria State last month.
On 9 October, armed men in military uniform raided a village in Wonduruba at night and murdered at least 27 civilians, mostly male youths, in cold blood. The attack, which also left four others with machete wounds, occurred shortly after a visit by Governor Gen. Augustino Jadalla Kamilo.
The violence erupted following a clash between a government-affiliated militia led by Gen. Kenyi Abdu, also known as Kenyi Warrior, and the National Salvation United Forces (NSUF) under Gen. Kenyi Loburon in Logoko Boma, near Wonduruba Town.
In his address on Tuesday, Dr. Paul Pitia Yugusuk, the Archbishop of Central Equatoria Internal Province of the ECSS, said people will gather at the mass graves to light candles, pray, and fast for the souls of and in memory of slain civilians.
“We want to declare 30 days of mourning across Central Equatoria Internal Province during which the congregation will pray and fast for the souls of those who have gone, and also for repentance and forgiveness,” he said. “We further request our president to immediately remove the ground forces from Mongili and take them outside of here and leave us at peace with our forces of commandos in Wonduruba and other places.”
The prelate also requested the government to give the UN clearance to investigate and verify what had happened in Kulipapa and Wonduruba.
Meanwhile, Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the civil society organization Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), called on state authorities to hold the perpetrators behind the killing of civilians in Wonduruba accountable.
“I would like to urge the governor of Central Equatoria State to constitute a committee to hold accountable perpetrators who beheaded innocent citizens.” He stated. “If there is any confrontation between armed conflicting parties, the bittiness should not be transferred to our common citizens like what happened in Wonduruba where some citizens were beheaded.”