South Sudanese civil society leader Edmund Yakani has condemned a brutal attack on Yari and Payawa villages in Yei River County, Central Equatoria, allegedly carried out by forces of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO).
The assault, which occurred on August 2, has left several children severely injured and displaced dozens of families.
Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) expressed outrage over the targeting of civilians, especially children, amid escalating military confrontations between SPLA-IO and South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF).
“Children are innocent. Children have nothing to do with the political motivation that lead to the military confrontation,” Edmund, CEPO’s Executive Director said. “Torturing children is a crime against humanity.”
According to local reports, children in the two villages were subjected to terrifying conditions during the attack, some of them physically harmed while others fled into nearby bushes.
The incident comes just weeks after renewed calls for the protection of civilians under international humanitarian law and existing agreements signed by the government of South Sudan.
Yakani appealed directly to field commanders from both SPLA-IO and SSPDF, urging them to cease using civilians as leverage in their power struggles.
“Terrorizing citizens to meet your political objective is a crime against humanity and must be stopped,” he stressed. “Never use civilians as a weapon of war for expressing your grievances.”
The humanitarian situation in Yei River County remains dire, with reports of growing displacement and food insecurity. Civil society actors are now calling for urgent humanitarian assistance and an independent investigation into the incident.
