By Kitab Unango
Members of the transitional national legislative assembly representing greater Tombura County have called on President Salva Kiir to appoint neutral committee to investigate the ongoing conflict in Western Equatoria State.
Over the past weeks, youths from Source Yubu Payam of Tombura together with others from neighboring Central Africa Republic and Democratic Republic of Congo have allegedly agreed to push for secession in their respective countries.
The group known as “Ani kpi gbe” a Zande phrase meaning “We have died a lot” are alleged to have laid an ambush on South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) soldiers inside South Sudan and wounded one officer.
In a joint press conference e held on Friday in Juba, eight MPs from Western Equatoria State said members of the local community in Tombura County must be included on the ad-hoc committee to formed to investigate the incident.
“We the representatives of the people from Greater Tombura want peace, unity and prosperity in our county. Therefore, for the interest of peace, we strongly and categorically recommend members of the local community to be part of the committee,” Susan Thomas Perembata, a MP representing Ezo County said.
The clashes between the armed youth and soldiers along the Central Africa Republic-South Sudan border have already displaced 5000 civilians who are being hosted in Raja County of Western Bahr el Ghazal State.
Thomas also called for inclusion of civil society members on the committee in order for it to be seen as impartial and credible.
