Armed men in military uniform raided a village in Central Equatoria State’s Wonduruba Administrative Payam and shot and gruesomely hacked ten civilians to death on Wednesday, according to local authorities.
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 government-affiliated militias 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. According to witness accounts, nine SSPDF militia members were killed and several others injured, with Gen. Kenyi Warrior’s vehicle ambushed and destroyed during his attempted escape to Lainya.
Bishop Matthew Taban of the Wonduruba Diocese of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan (ECSS), who attended Governor Jadalla’s peace rally earlier that day, expressed shock upon learning of the massacre. Among the victims were a pastor and a nurse who had been caring for wounded government militia members at the Wonduruba Health Center.
“The incident happened in Wonduruba when armed men went to the area south of the center of Wonduruba near the dispensary, near my house, and they were removing people from their houses, pushing them out, and then at the end they killed ten people, they shot them,” Bishop Taban narrated.
According to the prelate, the attack might have been retaliation for the earlier clashes between government forces and rebels. He urged both the army and rebels to seek peaceful resolutions to their conflicts, echoing Governor Jadalla’s call for non-violent negotiations.
Amule Jongolose, a lawmaker representing the area in the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, condemned the incident as “barbaric killings and a massacre” and called for an immediate investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“We urge the SSPDF to ensure equal protection and rightful treatment for our citizens of South Sudan as a whole, we demand accountability for human rights violations,” Jongolose stated.
SSPDF spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang acknowledged the fighting but was unable to provide details, stating he was trying to contact the commander on the ground.
“I have heard about the fighting in Wunduruba, but I am not able to get in touch with the commander so that I get details,” he said. “So, yes, we have heard about the fighting, but we do not have details.”
Gen. Koang admitted that some of the SSPDF soldiers were killed in the fighting.
Meanwhile, the coordinator of Wonduruba Administrative Area, Towongo Stephen, confirmed the incident, saying innocent civilians were picked from their houses, tied, and shot at randomly and four were injured after being chopped by machetes.
“There were clashes between the SSPDF and the NAS group in the outskirts of Wonduruba and we registered some causalities from the side of the SSPDF. The commander called me and I sent my pickup to bring the injured soldiers,” he explained. “On the contrary, that same night (Wednesday) at around 12:45 a.m., some gunmen stormed the nearby area and pulled out young men from their houses one by one, tied them, and shot at them randomly leaving 10 dead and four injured who were chopped by pangas but survived.”
According to Towongo, over a hundred people have now been displaced in the area and are sheltering at his home with some in the nearby homes and government offices.
“I strongly condemn this incident because civilians do not deserve to be put in such kind of situation and the perpetrators have to be brought to justice,” he stated.
A Press statement from the National Salvation United Forces (NASU) which splintered from NAS-Gen. Cirillo, said a continuing offensive against them which started 5 September 2024 by the “SSPDF and the allied Militia of Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro on 7 October pulled out from Mile 58 on the Juba-Lainya Road to attack our bases in wonduruba and Lainya counties for the fourth time in a row.”
“On the same day, they proceeded to open a base at Logoko, in Logwerle Boma close to our locations. At around 4 pm while the Governor of Central Equatoria State was addressing the people in Wonduruba Center, the hungry SSPDF and their militia rolled out and attacked us at our base. Our gallant forces fought back in defense and forced them to retreat to their base in Logoko leaving behind one dead and several others injured,” Gen. Paul Gideon Suleiman, the NASU spokesperson said. “On Wednesday 8 October 2024 early in the morning, they again attack us. This time our forces fought hard, killing 7 on the spot, overran their newly established base, and burned down one land cruiser vehicle which was rushing reinforcement to the besieged forces. Finally, the force was defeated and the remnants fled to Wonduruba town in panic. Five of them died in hospital meaning a total of 13 traitors have been eliminated while none was killed or injured on our side.”
“At around 10 p.m., 3 motorbikes, a fighter tank, and a truck arrived at Wonduruba Center from Lainya Town to collect those who were injured but they decided to launch a revenge attack on innocent civilians who had gathered to mourn a dead family member,” he added
Gen. Suleiman said the 10 people were killed in cold blood on suspicion of being either related to General Kenyi Loburong or members of his clan.
“Kenyi Warrior is implementing this strategy in Wonduruba and Lainya counties because earlier he called our command and told us that he has been instructed by the SSPDF Chief of Defense Forces (Gen. Santino Deng Wol, Cabinet Affairs Minister Dr Martin Lomuro, Ambrose, and Gen Toy to clear us from these areas in 6 months,” Sulieman stated. “Why can’t they face us instead of killing the innocent people who they claim to protect? NASU leadership urges the people of South Sudan to condemn this heinous crime perpetuated by the failed government in Juba. We call upon the human rights organizations, The Troika, and peace monitors to investigate these atrocities done to the innocent people of Wonduruba and to call for the release of those who are innocently being detained for simply being people from the area.”