At least one soldier has been killed and four other people injured in three different incidences in Yambio over the past one week, Western Equatoria State authorities said Monday.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj from Yambio, State Minister for Local Government and Law Enforcement Agencies James Morris Saverino, said an armed group clashed with the South Sudan People`s Defense Forces (SSDF) in the suburb of Yambio on Sunday evening, where civilians and members of the organized forces were injured.
“There was an incident yesterday in Yambio, around 8pm when a group of unknown gunmen clashed with the regular forces around Masia in Yambio. Two soldiers and two civilians were injured and the security agents were still working around to identify those involved,” Saverino said.
“We held a security meeting this morning and we are still trying to find out what is happening because that was not the only incident.
“Last Wednesday, a soldier was shot in Souk Siro by a person who is now in custody and today early morning, a bodyguard of the office manager of the governor was shot dead at around 5am. When the soldiers were moving around the office manager’s house, the guards tried to shoot at them. The soldiers fired back and killed and injured some people who were now receiving treatment in the hospital,” he explained.
The Minister, however, said the three incidents are not connected.
“They are different because the suspect in the Souk Siro incident on Wednesday has been apprehended and the one of yesterday at 8pm was yet to be identified,” Saverino said.
He called on the residents to cooperate with the soldiers on the streets because they were not targeting civilians but the people moving around with guns.
However, the People’s Freedom Movement (PFM) and a rebel group led by comedian commonly known as Feel Free, claimed responsibility for the attacks in a statement.
“The PFM would like to congratulate its gallant forces in Western Equatoria State-Yambio, under the command of Charles Tombura Joseph for the surprise attack at Suk Siro, killing one soldier and wounding another, and in the morning at Yambio airstrip, and this evening at about 10pm near Suk Masia that killed nine government soldiers,” read the statement.
“The PFM presence all over the 10 states of South Sudan must be felt by the government. We are representing, not our individual interests, but of the forgotten children of the heroes and heroines of the people of the Republic of South Sudan.”
SSPDF Spokesperson Maj Gen Lul Ruai Koang said he was not aware of the incidences in Yambio, saying he was still making contacts to get more information.