The author of this opinion piece argues that SPLA soldiers deployed in Wonduruba, Central Equatoria state are to blame for attacking Pojulu civilians in the area. The author gives an historical account of the violence in Wonduruba and suggests steps to take to resolve the crisis.

The following report is an account of events involving an attack by the South Sudanese army against civilians that occurred at Wonduruba Payam, situated in Lainya County, a few miles South-West of Juba in the country’s Central Equatoria state. These accounts were relayed by concerned witnesses who wish not to be identified due to personal security implications. However, the Pojulu community at large - in whose land the payam is located and whose kinsmen were attacked – wishes to advance this message for the sake of addressing human rights abuses, providing humanitarian assistance, and preventing similar crisis in the future.

Most of the inhabitants of Wonduruba Payam are of the Pojulu ethnicity. The Pojulu ethnic group speaks a variation of the Bari language of South Sudan.

In mid-2014, the government of South Sudan sent an army unit of 100 soldiers to hunt for a deserted soldier allegedly hiding in Wonduruba Payam. The force, led by Brigadier General David Malual, did not comprise of any individuals from the Pojulu or Bari-speaking community; as such none of the soldiers spoke the local language. The force set up a garrison in the heart of Wonduruba town, surrounded by residences of the local population.

The Wonduruba Crisis

The relationship between residents of Wonduruba town and the army unit deployed in the area had been deteriorating considerably. The residents tolerated this situation. In mid 2015, the army garrison accused the locals of lack of collaboration with the army unit. Subsequently, the population was subjected to systematic barbaric treatment that included arbitrary arrests, torture, rape and killing of innocent people. This treatment introduced a climate of fear and panic, and led to eventual displacement of the local population. It is to be noted that this scenario is similar to incidents witnessed in areas of Western Equatoria State just a few months earlier, in which the army attacked civilians in the areas of Mundri, Maridi and Yambio.

In late August 2015, the army garrison in Wonduruba town wanted to expand their control to the surrounding villages, which were under the control of rebels belonging to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – In Opposition (SPLM-IO). This move resulted in clashes between the army unit and the rebels. It is to be noted that this event happened at the same time when President Salva Kiir Mayardit signed the Compromise Peace Agreement with the SPLM-IO.

As the army unit attempted to expand its control to the surrounding villages, it directed its anger against the civilian population of Wonduruba. The army broke into shops in the town centre, looted and drank all the beer. Having done that it then carried out indiscriminate attacks that resulted in the deaths of more than nine civilians, all murdered on the same night and in front of their relatives. These civilian victims include: 1) Martin Lomiku Gambu 2) Paul Jambo, 3)Luka Latio 4) Elyuda Ladu 5) Salla Ladu Yesua 6) Lugrin Laku Lojang, 7) James Kambo Isaac 8) Oliver Lukudu. Other victims are yet to be accounted for. Further, some elderly and vulnerable persons were abandoned by their relatives. To date, there is no information on their whereabouts.

When the local media reported the news of this horrific incident, the Government of South Sudan temporarily suspended the activities of some reporters. On the other hand, the Government of Central Equatoria State, under the leadership of caretaker Governor Juma Ali Malou, formed an investigative committee made up of high-ranking officials from the state authorities and security organs. The state team was later joined by a unit of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to conduct a fact-finding mission.

Both teams left Juba on the 10th of September 2015 and spent the night in Lainya County headquarters. On the 11th they reached Wonduruba and found the town was deserted, the market looted and a huge pile of looted items waiting to be transported to Juba by military trucks called warriors. However, the teams were denied access to proceed beyond Wonduruba town to the villages of Jomaring, Mankaroo, Mengele and Katigiri due to the horrible scenes of dead bodies and destruction carried out by the army. The teams returned to the county headquarters. On the 12th the army commander in Wonduruba invited the teams to return to Wonduruba and allowed them to proceed to the aforementioned villages, but only after ensuring that the army had cleared the scene of evidence of its horrific actions.

The body of a civilian victim, late Martin Lomiku Gambu, was shot by army soldiers at Wonduruba town centre and later buried indecently by the same.

Conclusion

The Pojulu community strongly condemns the heavy-handedness of the actions of the army unit deployed at Wonduruba Payam and led by Brigadier General David Malual. We deplore the unnecessary loss of life, displacement and destruction caused by the army. We also note with dismay the fact that the army unit did not comprise of individuals from the local community who would have been better positioned to understand the residents of Wonduruba.

At present, the situation in Wonduruba remains precarious. The town is deserted and many of the people have been displaced. More than 2,600 local residents are currently camped in Lainya County. These Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are in dire need of food, medicine and shelter.

The Pojulu community kindly requests the assistance of humanitarian agencies in meeting the needs of IDPs in the area. A committee, located in Juba City, has been formed to coordinate humanitarian assistance. So far the Pojulu community within the country and in the diaspora have been contributing funds to assist the IDPs. The community in the diaspora welcomes any form of assistance from their local governments, including matching of funds contributed by members of the Pojulu community and their friends.

Recommendations

The following recommendations are made in light of the human rights abuses witnessed in Wonduruba Payam as per this report:

⦁       It is recommended that Brigadier General David Malual and his deputy be removed from the army base in Wonduruba Payam;

⦁       It is recommended that an impartial investigation be undertaken to look into the crisis in Wonduruba and bring those responsible to account for their actions, and

⦁       It is recommended that the residents of Wonduruba who suffered the atrocities of the army be compensated for the deaths of their relatives and the loss and destruction of their property.

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