Protests erupted in Tombura County, Western Equatoria, on Friday as residents accused UNMISS of failing to protect civilians amid ongoing conflict, while a civil society activist urged youth to resist being exploited by political elites.
Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progressive Organization (CEPO), warned that political manipulation of youth could ignite dangerous violence.
“I urge our brothers and sisters in Tombura County to abstain from being used by political elites to pursue their objectives,” Yakani said.
Yakani stressed that Tombura residents had traditionally lived in harmony, but some political actors are exploiting young people for personal gain.
“We have documented those constantly fueling deadly violence, targeting civilians, and spreading propaganda and misinformation about UNMISS,” he added.
The protests followed reports that armed men had seized firearms from a UNMISS patrol team in Tombura, prompting residents to take to the streets with posters accusing the peacekeeping mission of supplying weapons to rebels.
One sign read: “UNMISS is prolonging the war in Tombura by giving weapons to rebels. UNMISS must leave within 72 hours.”
Yakani called on the protesting youth to allow UNMISS to respond to the allegations, emphasizing that inflamed tensions and misinformation risk deepening the conflict.
The unfolding situation underscores rising unrest in Tombura, where political exploitation of civilians and distrust of peacekeepers are driving both protests and fears of escalating violence.
