Residents of Liirangu Payam in Yambio County, South Sudan’s Western Equatoria State, have been forced to flee their homes following intense gunfire that erupted this morning.
The area, located 15km north of Yambio town, is known to host an assembly point for SPLA-IO forces.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, several local residents said the violence has left them in a state of fear, with many seeking safety elsewhere.
Unconfirmed reports suggest additional soldiers are being deployed to the nearby area of Nadiangere, though local authorities have yet to issue an official statement.
Community leaders are urging the state government to intervene and restore peace, warning that the ongoing violence is disrupting farming activities and children’s education.
Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, spokesperson for the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), told Radio Tamazuj that he had no detailed information about the incident but confirmed that the SSPDF’s operations commander in Yambio is gathering reports from the field.
“I don’t have details on where the fighting is taking place, who initiated it, or if there are civilian casualties,” Maj. Gen. Lul said.
On the opposition side, Mary John Osman, the SPLM-IO Secretary in Yambio, also expressed uncertainty about the clashes.
She confirmed hearing continuous gunfire in Liirangu but said her group does not know the reason behind it.
“We saw vehicles transporting soldiers to Liirangu, and we are hearing ongoing gunshots, but we don’t know what exactly is happening in the bush,” she said.
Mary Osman added that she had seen a Land Cruiser vehicle and an ambulance heading towards Liirangu. She also noted that a similar incident occurred yesterday along the Makpandu road, raising concerns about escalating insecurity in the state.
Attempts to contact SPLA-IO commanders in the Liirangu area were unsuccessful, as phone calls were not going through.
Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, spokesperson for the SPLA-IO in Juba, told Radio Tamazuj that the movement has yet to receive any official report on the situation in Liirangu.
The situation remains tense as gunfire continues, with residents anxiously awaiting clarification from the authorities.
Tensions have remained high in Western Equatoria State between the SSPDF and the opposition SPLA-IO following the removal of state governor Alfred Futuyo Karaba, a member of the SPLM-IO.
On 10 February, President Salva Kiir issued a series of decrees unilaterally removing several senior government officials, including Alfred Futuyo.
Shortly after his removal, Futuyo fled Yambio, the capital of Western Equatoria State, following an alleged attack on his residence. The incident reportedly involved elements allegedly linked to the SSPDF.
South Sudan has been formally at peace since President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar signed a 2018 agreement that ended a five-year civil war, which claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. However, sporadic violence continues to threaten stability in parts of the country.