Residents of Lasu Payam in Yei River County of Central Equatoria State have decried increased insecurity and restricted movement along the 28-mile road connecting South Sudan to the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.
Early this week, Yei River County commissioner Agrey Cyrus Kanyikwa and the spokesperson for the rebel holdout National Salvation Front (NAS) Suba Samuel Manase issued press statements accusing each other’s forces of attacking and looting civilians and refugees in the Nyori refugee camp on Sunday night.
Travelers plying the route say they fear intimidation, looting, abductions, and even killings by armed men on the highway. Residents and travelers demanded protection of lives and property in the area and along the Yei-Lasu road.
Simon Taban, a resident in Lasu Boma, told Radio Tamazuj that many people are subjected to possible human rights abuse like killing, abduction, looting, rape, and restricted movement.
“I am afraid, and we cannot move freely on the road because if once the armed men get civilians like us on the road, they would be killed or taken to an unknown location. We are tired as civilians and what we want is peace in Yei. Many children are living in the bushes without clothes and bedsheets. Is this suffering really good,” a frustrated Taban asked.
Another resident, Victor Peter said: "The Yei-Lasu road is becoming unsafe for some of us the women. There has been fighting around Otogo Payam and the armed fighters always transfer their anger on the civilians by either killing, torturing, arresting, or looting civilian properties when traveling on the road from Yei or Lasu Payam."
Lasu Payam head chief Alex Kenyi calls on the armed actors along the Yei-Lasu road to protect civilians and allow unhindered access on the highway.
“Many of my people are surviving with goods and services from Yei town. Many of my people could not concentrate on farming this year, and they are depending on the market in Yei to buy food; floor, salt, and shop from Yei and we demand that let the road be open for use by the civilians,” he demanded.
For his part, Yei River County commissioner Aggrey Cyrus Kanyigwa said the local government and its security units will ensure free movement and protection of civilians.
Aggrey accused the NAS forces of waging attacks on civilians under gunpoint and called on the state and national governments to support efforts to end the continuous conflict in the Yei area.
“I want to take this opportunity to call on the government of Central Equatoria State and the Republic of South Sudan to extend their hands to end this conflict in Yei River County. Most conflicts have ended in parts of South Sudan, why should the conflict continue in Yei River County? We also call on rebels against waging terror activities because we have evidence. We demand that our people are left in peace," Cyrus said.
However, in a press statement, NAS spokesman Suba Samuel Manase denied involvement in the attacks, lootings, and killing of civilians in the county.