Some of the civilians displaced by violence seeking safety in Tambura town in July 2021 | Credit | Courtesy

A prominent religious leader has called on the leadership of the country to end the ongoing cycle of violence in Tambura County.

Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro of the Catholic Diocese of Tambura-Yambio says the situation is complex given the incidents of lawlessness.

“Greater Tambura is part of South Sudan and when guns are used by civilians to fight and kill each other, this, then, becomes a national concern,” he told Eye Radio in Yambio.

Over the weekend, violence erupted again after the body of an officer from the Criminal Investigation Department was found on the outskirts of Tambura a day he went missing.

County authorities said at least 11 people have been killed in the renewed fighting in the villages adjacent to Tambura town.

The authorities there say hundreds of families have again been displaced following the renewed fighting – majority of whom are said to be in dire need of shelter, food, water, and other assistance.

Between June and July, over 20 people were reportedly killed in separate attacks in the areas of Source Yubu, Akpa, Mabenge, Kpatanayo and other locations in Tambura County.

More than 21, 000 people mainly women and children have already sought refuge in Tambura town and the neighboring Counties.

The latest attack emerged a week after a group of religious leaders in Western Equatoria visited Tambura to call for an end to the conflict.

The attacks are mostly in the areas of Source Yubu, Akpa, Mabenge, Kpatanayo, among others.

“There are organized forces in the area but they don’t want to see what is going on. So, this problem is complex,” the church leader continued.

Tambura County authority has accused a section of the SPLA-IO of carrying out the latest attacks but the SPLM-IO has denied the allegations.

According to Commissioner, Mathew Mabenge, the situation has worsened, stating that the SPLA-IO elements are loitering in the villages – causing havoc.

In response, a senior member of the SPLM-IO in Western Equatoria state refuted the allegations.

William Baiki, state minister of information, instead accused the paramount chief of Tambura and the commissioner of instigating the violence.

And recently, the governor of Western Equatoria blamed four prominent politicians from the state for perpetuating the violence that left at least eight civilians dead in Tambura County recently.

The four individuals include Jemma Nunu Kumba, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and SPLM acting Secretary-General, and Patrick Raphael Zamoi, the former governor of defunct Tombura state.

The area leaders denied the allegations.

Bishop Hiiboro, however, appealed to the leaders to work together to end the circle of violence through dialogue.

“We do not need to sponsor violence; we have to get over it. We have to work together to overcome it,”

The Inter-church Council and Inter-faith Council for Peace Initiative in Western Equatoria state have urged politicians to stop manipulating people by using what they term as “irresponsible comments and incitement.”