Civilians flee for safety as Lainya County turns into warzone

Local authorities in Lainya County, among them church leaders, have expressed concerns over the deteriorating security situation which has forced many civilians to flee to neighbouring Uganda in recent days. They said there have been series of armed confrontations between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and forces of National Salvation Front (NAS) with both forces accusing locals of backing their enemies.

According to leaders, there have been arbitrary arrest, torture and killing of civilians as well as looting and burning of houses since 2019 as a result of the confrontation between the two armed groups in Lainya County.

“We sing one song, the song of peace that people need peace now to settle in their areas not only in Lainya but in the whole of South Sudan because that will be a benefit to ordinary citizens. “But what leaders say is contrary to what is on ground. When will these killings end, many returnees are forced to go back to refugee camps where they came from because the situation there is so bad,” Joel Rufas Taban, Acting Bishop of Episcopal Church of Lanya County said.

Appeal for ceasefire

Bishop Rufas called on the SSPDF and NAS to cease hostility to allow civilians, most of whom are returnees, to resettle and rebuild their livelihoods. Last month, church leaders accused SSPDF of arresting and killing of four worshipers, including a priest in Lainya during a Sunday church service. Their bodies were found in the following day in a nearby bush, among the dead was a 19-year-old boy. SSPDF denied any responsibility.

 Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, SSPDF Spokesperson, promised the army leadership would investigate the accusation saying the area where the incident occurred was under the control of NAS forces. But NAS also denied, with no group bearing the responsibility. However, the SSPDF and NAS have been trading accusations over deteriorating security in Central Equatoria State since 2019 which has pushed many civil populations into displacement, especially in Lainya, Yei, Morobo and Kejo-keji counties.

Speaking to the City Review on Friday, Rev. Rufas said some civilians who were arrested by men in uniforms have been set free but two others were still in custody of the SSPDF in Lainya. “Eleven people were released last week, but two people are still in custody of SSPDF and we don’t know their fate. The other person is a local trader. So we are calling on the government to release the two,” said Rufas.

Matthew Laku, acting paramount chief of Lanya, said despite relative calm within Lainya town, the security situation remained tensed in the villages outside the town. Mr. Laku said many people who fled to the town, most of whom women and children, were in dire need of food, water and shelters, “Now we have very many displaced persons who have fled their villages from Loka Payam and other parts around Lainya County here. Their situation is dire, they are hungry, and they have nothing to eat, even the host community are suffering,’ “We call for peace in Lainya so that people can cultivate this season to avoid possible hunger due to lack of food. We are worrying because the situation may become worse if people fail to cultivate,” said Mr. Laku.

 Peace talk between the government and South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOMA), NAS is yet to reach a deal and bring inclusive and lasting peace to the country. Last month, Thomas Cirilo, leader of NAS and his groups boycotted the Rome negotiation, accusing the government’s security personnel of killing their commander in Kampala in April.

 Since then there have been reports of clashes between the two warring parties in some parts of Central Equatoria State which the peace monitoring body said was a violation of the 2017 Secession of Hostility Agreement (CoH).