Forces loyal to President Salva Kiir burnt several abandoned houses in Wonduruba Payam’s Jondoru area along the Lainya road over the weekend, according to civilian witnesses. Residents report that civilians are still avoiding the SPLA soldiers for fear of being killed.

A villager told Radio Tamazuj by phone from the bush in Wonduruba Payam that the army burnt houses in the afternoon and again in the evening on Saturday.

Another witness who is a resident of the area said he went to look for food but hid in the nearby bushes after seeing the soldiers. He confirmed the incident saying forces that are based in Wonduruba were travelling towards Lainya on vehicles Saturday; on reaching Jondoru area they started firing in the air before burning abandoned houses in the village.

“They came on trucks. I saw other Land Cruisters coming from Lainya towards Wonduruba when they met; they started shooting in the air. Both are SPLA forces.”

“Others were coming from Wondruba and others were coming from Lainya. They met here in our area. They shot many times before burning the houses then all vehicles went to Wonduruba at around noon Saturday,” witness said on the phone.

The witness said he had been looking for food in the garden. Many people in the area have fled to the bush without food. He added that civilians still fear appearing before the SPLA forces, which are based in several of the bomas of Wonduruba Payam.

Meanwhile, another resident in a location along the road to Katigiri complained of hearing gunshots over the week as of Saturday dawn. She said there were heavy and light gunshots but did not clarify who were shooting. She added that Kiir's forces in Wonduruba Payam have started hunting for civilians in the bush who have not managed to flee to other population centers like Lainya.

Last week SPLA troops turned away a UNMISS patrol to the Wonduruba area, according to the UN spokesman in New York. He explained, “UNMISS military and civilian personnel were ordered to exit [their] vehicle and were physically assaulted by the soldiers. In view of the highly hostile attitude, the patrol turned back to Juba.”

Related:

SPLA troops block UNMISS patrol in Central Equatoria (8 Oct.)

3 SPLA killed in Mankaro area of Central Equatoria (5 Oct.)

Local officials say SPLA kills 5 more people in Katigiri (23 Sept.)

Boy shot dead in Wonduruba after fact-finding team departs (22 Sept.)

Population 'terrorized' by SPLA in Wonduruba (21 Sept.)

SPLA Commando unit prevents fact-finding team from visiting Katigiri (18 Sept.)

Ruling party MP accuses SPLA of terrorizing citizens in Wonduruba (17 Sept.)