Unidentified gunmen killed seven young civilians hiding in a bush in Western Equatoria’s Nagero County amid violent clashes between rival forces on Monday, a local official said.
The victims, all males between the ages of 17 and 22, were attacked overnight Tuesday as they sought refuge from ongoing fighting in the area, a government official told Radio Tamazuj. The official spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal.
“I don’t have clear information on who exactly carried out the killings,” the official said. “The situation was tense, and many people were running and hiding in the bush.”
The official added that by Tuesday morning, the army had advised civilians to return to town and remain calm, asserting that the situation was under control.
several local residents, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said they believed the killings were a case of mistaken identity during a confrontation between the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) and the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), the national army.
The acting governor of Western Equatoria State, Justin Marona, addressed the broader insecurity in the region in a press statement Tuesday. He pointed out that the clashes in Nagero erupted on Monday following an attack on government position by the opposition forces, pointing out that the violence resulting in the killings of people.
He said Nagero and neighboring Mundri East counties have seen a resurgence of violence that has displaced hundreds of civilians.
“The state government is urging all armed forces to protect innocent civilians and consider the ongoing humanitarian situation,” Marona said.
He called on humanitarian organizations, including the Red Cross, to provide food and other aid to the displaced populations in Kediba and Nagero counties.
As of Wednesday morning, neither the SSPDF nor the SPLA-IO had issued an official statement regarding the killings. Radio Tamazuj could not immediately reach representatives from either group for comment.