Yakani questions security chiefs over deadly violence in Tonj region

Civil society activist Edmund Yakani has questioned the country’s security leadership over its failure to prevent recurring inter-communal violence in the Greater Tonj region, following two separate attacks that reportedly killed 84 people and wounded 62 others in Warrap State. Yakani, the Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), challenged the Ministers of Defence and Interior, the Chief of Defence Forces, the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of National Security, and the Director of Military Intelligence to explain why civilians continue to die in repeated armed clashes. He said the latest incidents raised serious questions about the government’s ability to protect civilians, particularly as authorities have declared disarmament efforts in the Tonj region.

“As a human rights defender, we have a serious question before the leadership of the country, that this incident is happening repeatedly in Greater Tonj Region without proper response from the state authority,” Yakani said. He referred to Monday’s attack, which reportedly left 72 people dead and 38 wounded, and a separate attack on Tuesday in Akop Payam, where a local youth leader reported 12 people killed and 24 wounded. The Tuesday attack was allegedly carried out by armed criminals believed to have come from Marial Lou Payam and Tonj East County. Five villages were reportedly burned, while five people remained missing. The assailants in Monday’s attack were separately reported to have come from Mayom County and Alabek Payam. Yakani questioned why such deadly violence continues despite the government’s stated disarmament efforts in the region. “My question I would like to raise to the attention of the country, and in particular, the CDF of the army, IGP of…