At least 10 people were injured, 35 head of cattle killed, and 52 others wounded in renewed aerial attacks by the SSPDF and Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) in Unity State’s Panyijiar County on Tuesday, local officials said.
Panyijiar County is a stronghold of the opposition SPLM/A-IO led by detained First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday, Simon Kuol Beliu, the Relief and Rehabilitation Coordinator (RRC) Director in Payinjiar County, accused the SSPDF and UPDF of using gunships to bomb innocent civilians in the county on Monday and Tuesday morning.
“The aerial attacks targeted the areas of Pachienjiok, Pachak, Pualmuok, and Puomlual in the Pachar constituency,” he explained. “However, there was no bombardment today (Wednesday), and those who were injured in prior attacks are receiving treatment at home due to fear that the SSPDF will target the hospital. That is why the survivors took to the high highlands.”
“The bombing injured 10 people and led to the killing of 52 cattle and injury of 52 others,” Kuol added.
He said an estimated 29,300 people have fled their homes and are now displaced because of the aerial bombardment.
“The population from the affected areas fled to Payinjiar headquarters, Tayar Island, Kol Payam, Paak Boma, Machar Boma, Makuor Boma, and Maluok Payam.
Kuol urged Governor Riek Biem Top to intervene to stop the aerial attacks on innocent civilians.
“The RRC calls on the Government of Unity State, especially the governor, to intervene because Payinjiar County is part of Unity State and its people have been in peace with their neighbours in Lakes State,” he said. “The national government should stop killing civilians.”
Meanwhile, Panyijiar County Commissioner Gabriel Magok Bol told this publication on Tuesday evening that he was surprised by the continued aerial attacks, which injured seven people.
“The injured are being treated at a hospital within Panyijiar, which I will not name because the SSPDF may target and bomb it,” he stated.
The commissioner also stated that the peace treaties with Lakes State are now void due to the bombardment.
“The agreements between the Payinjiar Community and Lakes State communities are now dead, we as speak,” he said. “The agreement was made to resolve the issue of cattle raiding between two communities of Panyijiar in Unity State and communities of Lakes State, but the armed youth from Panyijar violated the agreement several times.”