Date: 10 September 2022
Statement on the callous attack of the IDPs in Adhidhiang
At around 3:00 pm on Thursday the 8th instant, the IDPs camp at Adhidhiang in Panikang County was attacked by a force that had crossed from Dyiel to the western side of Bahr El Jebel the day before. The IDPs were dispersed, their properties looted and the camp burnt down by the attackers. Many lives were lost mostly children, the elderly and women, and the rest fled into the surrounding bushes, with some drowning in the river. This callous and unprovoked attack on these innocent civilians must be condemned in the strongest terms possible and the perpetrators must be brought to account.
Since July, the population from Tonga and Panyikang Omodiyas have been on the move seeking security and peace as a result of the senseless fighting that erupted between the forces of the former SPLM/A-IO Kit-Gwang group (Agwelek forces of Johnson Olony Thubo and his former Chairman, Simon Gatwec Dual) in July and between Agwelek and forces of armed Nuer from Fangak area and SPLM/A-IO, respectively, since August up to date. Whatever caused the fighting between these three SPLM/A-IO groups bringing in the armed Nuer is not much of our concern here but it is regrettable that parties that claim to be in the peace process are causing havoc and unnecessary suffering to the civil population. The population were displaced from their homes and their property looted and thought that they had found safety in Adhidhiang only to be attacked again yesterday and the little food and medicines they received from the humanitarian organizations ransacked and their shelter burnt down. It seems that the only safe place for them now is the POC which is very unfortunate as the population there were looking forward, because of the peace promised them, to relocate to their villages to resume their normal lives.
There are quarters that for their pernicious designs would want to turn this tragedy to a Nuer-Collo conflict. They must not be allowed to succeed. The fighting is between three SPLM-IO groups with Nuer and Collo together on all the sides. They must find ways and means to resolve their differences peacefully.
The efforts of the Commissioner of Panyikang County and his staff in the continuing challenge to help the surviving IDPs are commendable. We are thankful to the sons of the Collo Kingdom and the humanitarian organizations that generously extended a helping hand to these helpless civilians when they arrived Adhidhiang some weeks back. We also call on UNMISS to exercise its fully responsibility of protecting civilians.
Mahmoud A. Akot,
Spokesperson, NDM. Spokesperson National Democratic Movement N.D.M 10 SEP 2022
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Editor’s Note: The views expressed in the “Press Release Page” are solely the opinions of the writers. The veracity of any claims made is the responsibility of the authors and is not necessarily endorsed by The Malakal Post. The Malakal Post reserves the right to edit the press statement before publication. If you would like to submit an opinion article or analysis, please email your article to info@malakalpost.com
