Futuyo demands probe into Tombura conflict
Western Equatoria Governor, Alfred Futuyo has demanded the national parliament to investigate last year’s Tombura conflict.
He made the statement while addressing the Council of States on Thursday after he was summoned to answer questions regarding the issue of insecurity in his state.
In an interview with The City Review yesterday, Alex Daniel the Governor’s Press Secretary said, “The governor wants the Council of States to form a committee to go and investigate his presentation because in his presentation the governor highlighted some points about the conflict in Western Equatoria which he wants the committee to go and verify.”
However, Daniel did not elaborate on key points presented by the Governor to the Council of States but said Michael Mario Bol, a member of Council of State was appointed to head the yet-to-be constituted committee to invest Futuyo’s report.
Last year, Futuyo accused some prominent politicians from the area of instigating and aiding conflict in Tombura that claimed several lives, displaced thousands and destroyed communities’ livelihood in the area.
In a joint report by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the UN Human Rights Office on Monday, at least 440 civilians were killed in the clashes that erupted between June and September 2021 in Western Equatoria State.
The report accused the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) and South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) under General James Nando of being behind the violence that also wounded 18 and 74 abducted in Tombura.
UNMISS report further says at least 64 civilians were subjected to conflict-related sexual violence, among them a 13-year-old girl who was gang-raped to death with some 80,000 forced out of their homes.
The UN human rights investigation identified 31 individuals who may bear the greatest responsibility for violations and abuses committed during the conflict, among them high-ranking military officials, community and religious leaders to have instigated, facilitated and aided the violence.
“Women and children who were abducted must immediately be released and reunited with their families, and survivors should be provided with reparations,” she urged. Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said.
Ms. Bachelet added, “Allegations against these individuals must be promptly, thoroughly, and independently investigated, and perpetrators brought to justice and held accountable.”
However, according to Daniel, the governor Futuyo had denied involvement in the fight given that the conflict began decades ago before his rule in Western Equatoria State.
“The governor was clear that if the investigation finds guilty, let him be held accountable because he is quite sure that he did not take part in the conflict of Tombura,” Daniel said.
