Ceasefire Observers Alarmed by Escalating Violence in South Sudan's Troubled Region
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Juba, Dec 13 (NationPress) The ceasefire observers in South Sudan have raised serious alarms about the escalating security crisis in Tambura County, located in Western Equatoria State, southwest of Juba, the national capital. Yitayal Gelaw Bitew, the chair of the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM), reported that the situation in the volatile Tambura County is alarming, particularly following the attempted assassination of the county commissioner on November 28, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
“CTSAMVM is troubled by the deteriorating security conditions in Tambura County. One individual lost his life in what appears to be an assassination attempt on the commissioner,” stated Gelaw during a meeting of CTSAMVM members in Juba.
Gunmen fired a rocket-propelled grenade at the residence of Tambura County Commissioner Matthew Mabenge, resulting in one fatality.
“This incident exemplifies a coordinated effort to remove an official and destabilize peace and security in Western Equatoria,” Gelaw commented.
Since June 2021, Tambura County has been embroiled in ethnic violence, involving the South Sudan People's Defence Forces and the opposition Sudan People's Liberation Army-In-Opposition, who have been battling on opposing sides of the conflict.
On November 8, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) increased peacekeeping patrols in response to reports of armed groups mobilizing, which has heightened tensions and fear among local residents in Tambura County.
Additionally, the peacekeeping mission noted that the number of displaced persons seeking safety near the UNMISS temporary operating base in Tambura surged from approximately 3,700 to over 10,500.
