Clinical officer killed, 30 people kidnapped in Yei

At least one health worker was killed and 30 more people kidnapped in an attack by an armed group in Yei.

Yei River County Commissioner Aggrey Cyrus Kanyikwa confirmed the incident saying two cars belonging to international medical charity group MSF were torched and a motorcycle burnt to ashes.

 “It is true and even this morning (Thursday) this is one of the worrying issues that has never been experienced in Yei before.  Even this morning at 10:30 the same group of rebels at the same place laid an ambush on a motorist, one of the clinical officers, the pastor was released but the clinical officer was shot dead,” Kanyikwa explained

He called for calm after the killing of the only Clinical Officer for Tore Payam only identified as Albino and the abduction of 30 civilians.

The MSF vehicles were en route to provide mobile clinic health services in Minyori Boma when they came under attack.   

Kanyikwa said the majority of the civilians have been receiving health services from the MSF Clinic in Jansuk, which he said had been helping a lot of people in the area.

“I am just very outraged with these kinds of behavior that are being used by the National Salvation Front, targeting civilians, killing civilians, somebody like the clinical officer who is serving the people of Tore just killed,” he said.

However, NAS denied any involvement in the attacks and condemned it.

Kanyikwa described the NAS spokesperson’s press release as “crocodile tears flowing while it swims in a river.”

“The press release which condemns the act of their own making was a mockery of human rights and crimes against humanity. It proves that NAS lacks vision.”

When asked to proof if the attack was carried by NAS, he said, “the way they dress is different and the way they behave and the language they use. These are people who are composed of different tribes and the combination of this group is very clear.”

“They are telling people that the people are puppets, they are also saying they don’t want the people to come to town and interact,” Kanyikwa explained.

He made an emotional plea to armed factions, saying that until NAS pursues peaceful conversation and negotiated settlements under the current St Egidio Rome Peace Initiative, the blood and tears of the innocent people of Yei River County will haunt them and their descendants.

 This is the latest in a series of attacks on MSF convoy.  On Feb 28th two MSF trucks were attacked and medicines looted.