By Ruot George and Chondok Stephen Magei
Authorities must intervene to stop ongoing violence in South Sudan’s Unity State that is threatening the peace and stability of the people, a local pressure group has demanded.
Several counties in the southern part of the state have witnessed acts of violence caused by armed youths which has led to widespread looting, pillaging of villages, killing of people and displacement.
In Leer and Mayendit counties, at least 2300 households have fled their homes when the armed youths swooped.
In Koch County, a cantonment site for opposition soldiers was overrun when the youths attacked.
More than 20 people have died in the violence while villages of Gandor, Padeeh, Rupnor, Tunyang, Luom, Guaat, Gueny and many others have been burnt down.
A local civil Society group in Unity State has condemned intercommunal violence that has occurred among the three counties of Southern Unity State.
Last week, fighting occurred in Mirmir cantonment site in Koch and later extended to Leer and and Mayiandit.
More than 2000 household have been displaced into Leer town.
The Unity State Activist Network said in a statement issued on Monday that there is need for the “state government to intervene to calm down the situation, investigate the root causes of the problem, initiate community dialogues, resolve the problem amicably and hold accountable the county leaders [commissioners] who mobilised youth to fight among each other.”
The statement issued by the group’s Secretary General, Thor Youanes Bwath urged “the transitional national legislative assembly to summon the commissioners of Koch, Mayendit and Leer for investigation and accountability” over the violence.
The group warned the fighting violates the cessation of hostilities and the ongoing peace implementation in the country.
Over the weekend, fighting continued in Nyoat when a group of armed youths trying to advance to Thokwath Thiey were ambushed by opposition forces of the SPLM-IO.
Arms youths fall in ambush yesterday at 3 PM by SPLM-IO in Nyoat when trying to advance Thokwath thiey inland port SPLM-IO military base.
An SPLM-IO official in the area, Gatgok Khor confirmed five people died in the clash which ensured.
