What is in Tombura is “silent tribal” conflict, says SSPDF
Confirming to this publication about the knowledge of the continued silent inter-communal conflict in Tombura, SSPDF spokesperson said army has launched a patrol to combat further inter-communal attacks
By James Chatim
The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces have broken its silence over the ongoing conflict in Tombura, saying what is taking place in the area is a “silent tribal” conflict.
Speaking to The City Review on Wednesday, Major Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, the SSPDF spokesperson said the army is aware of the continued silent inter-communal conflict in Tombura.
However, Lul did not mention specifically which communities are fighting in Tombura.
“The violent incidents that occurred recently in Tombura County are allegedly targeted killing, according to reports from the ground, which is taking a type of a silent inter-communal fighting,” he said.
He unveiled the involvement of some armed members in the conflict who are waiting for integration into the SSPDF.
Lul said as per the directives of the Deputy Governor of Western Equatoria State, he urged for their removal from the area to stop further escalation.
“According to reports they told me it appeared like there was a targeted killing. The first person who was accused of the initial attack was apprehended. And then those who were also involved in the second attack at the church and the market, are still being tracked down,” Gen. Lul explained.
He said the army has launched a patrol to combat further inter-communal attacks and some security threats in Western Equatoria State following two attacks that occurred at St. Mary Help of Christians Parish Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Tombura market.
“Patrols are being scalled. Then the two communities that are fighting silently are being engaged to stop further escalation. There are different elements from the organized forces getting involved. Those who were recently integrated into SSPDF,” he said.
On the evening of December 10, 2024, unidentified gunmen indiscriminately opened fire at St. Mary Help of Christian Parish IDPs camp which left one person dead and another seriously injured.
Another attack was also reported on December 17, 2024, where heavily armed men carrying rocket-propelled grenades (RPG) and PKM machine guns launched an attack on the Tombura market.
However, there was a suggestion that those who were integrated into SSPDF, originally from Balanda and Azande backgrounds should not remain in the same area. “This is a suggestion from the deputy governor. I just read on his official social media,” he said.
According to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan’s (UNMISS) 2021 report, pre-existing fractures between the Azande and Balanda communities in Western Equatoria State have largely been politicized, exacerbated, and exploited. This divide was caused by multiple factors including tension between the Avungara ruling clan of the Azande and the Balanda over leadership roles in political offices and traditional authority structures in Tombura constituted a fertile ground for the escalation of violence, UNMISS reports.
In the period leading up to the outbreak of conflict in Tambura County in June 2021, intermittent reports of ethnically motivated violence targeting civilians in Source Yubu surfaced between February and May 2021.
This resulted in among other forms of violations, killings and displacement of civilian populations. In the same period, the incursion of armed militia and other armed elements triggered a strong military response setting the scene for the conflict in Tombura County during which many civilians were killed.
