Three civilians were killed in an ambush Sunday morning in Tambura County of Western Equatoria State, a local official said.
The victims were traveling from Tambura town to Sinawiri village for a funeral when unidentified gunmen opened fire on them along the Tambura-Rii-Yubu road, acting County Commissioner Moses Merci Sere told Radio Tamazuj on Monday.
“The three people, one woman and two men, were on their way to Yubu for a burial when unknown gunmen opened fire on them. Unfortunately, all three died on the spot,” Sere said.
He accused the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO) of being behind repeated attacks in the area.
“What has been happening in Tambura are SPLA-IO attacks —killings, gunfire, and looting of the community,” Sere said. “We are appealing to the armed groups to stop attacking innocent people and respect the peace agreement.”
Local sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation, said the attack occurred around 7:30 a.m. on Oct. 12 and that the assailants seized the victims’ motorcycle and mobile phones. The deceased were between 19 and 30 years old.
Community members condemned the killings and urged authorities and peace monitors to intervene.
Maj. Gen. Phillip Madut Tong, the police commissioner of Western Equatoria State, said he had not yet received an official report on the incident but promised that police would investigate.
Civil society activist Edmund Yakani described the attack as “a continuous violation of human rights” in the county.
“There are ongoing confrontations between SSPDF and SPLA-IO in Tambura. If there are differences, they should be resolved through dialogue, not violence,” Yakani said, referring to the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces.
The SPLA-IO in the area could not be reached for comment.