South Sudanese government forces attacked and burnt Tayar Port in southern Unity State's Panyijar County last week. The port had served as a hub for inter-ethnic trade among the three states of Unity, Lakes and Jonglei.

According to a witness account seen by Radio Tamazuj, government forces conducted an amphibious attack on the island at about 10:00 in the morning on 13 May after approaching by barge via the Nile and Lake Tayar.

The witness was living at neighboring Ganyliel village at the time of the attack, a distance of about 20 km. He heard sounds of 'heavy artillery' and witnessed smoke rising from Tayar Port.

“The island was overwhelmingly bombarded... From Ganyliel, those hearing the attack on the island could not believe there would be survivors.”

The witness says government forces took control of the island shortly after the bombardment. He recalled seeing a “dark cloud of smoke” from the direction of Tayar.

According to the source, who also met with people who visited the Tayar after the attack, “The government forces burned the shops, homes, the school, homes and goods.”

In the afternoon, government forces on the island were harrassed by opposition forces and left in the direction of Adok Port of Leer. They returned the next day, clashed with SPLM-IO forces and took control of the island again, the source stated.

“Once again, they took over momentarily. They collected and further burned a few things that did not burn when they first burned it the day before and then [left] the island again in the afternoon of May 14, 2015.”

The Ganyliel resident further asserted that a number of children were found to have drowned in the swamps after fleeing the attack, but he noted the final death toll was not confirmed.

Villagers at neighboring Ganyliel also panicked fearing they could also come under attack. “Sounds of heavy artillery fired at the island caused panic at Ganyliel. Children at Ganyliel cried profusely. They were terrified by the sounds of guns. They worried about their own lives,” the resident recalled.

Prior to the attack, Tayar Port had been receiving goods from Dinka-inhabited areas, serving as a conduit for trade to Nuer communities of Jonglei and Unity states.

Dinka traders lived and sold their goods to Nuer at Tayar. Their security was looked after by resident Nyuong community and fellow Nuer traders, the witness recalled.

He mentioned also a marriage between a prominent Dinka trader and a Nuer girl from Ganyliel in March 2015, which contributed to bridging the Nuer-Dinka 'tribal divide' and building confidence in trade at Tayar.

Meanwhile, photographs taken at Tayar recently and shared with Radio Tamazuj show extensive destruction.

Courtesy photo: Destruction of Tayar Port