Clashes between SSPDF and NAS forces displaces hundreds in Lobonok
“Those soldiers (SSPDF) raped women and young girls. Even some of us who are elderly are raped, including women who have given birth. Our properties have been looted. Our children have suffered; some are shot, and others are slaughtered. Why?”
They got killed, raped, looted and displaced from their villages.
Hundreds of civilians were displaced in Lobonok Payam in Central Equatoria last week due to fighting between government forces and rebels. Eyewitnesses accuse government forces of killing and raping women and girls and looting civilian property in the village.
Army spokesman Lul Ruai Koang said he wasn’t aware of the abuses but admitted the clashes with the National Salvation Front (NAS) forces happened in Lobonok ten days ago.
Local Chief, Silver Keri said the IDPs were displaced after government forces attacked villages in Lobonok earlier last week as they looked for NAS forces allegedly operating in the area.
“They came to Nyarbang area and proceeded up to Karpeta where they entered deep into the mining place and displaced those people who were mining,” Keri told The Insider on phone.
He said some people sought refuge in Kit Four Boma while others went to remote parts of Lobonok like Nyapa village.
Chief Keri added that about 100 families are now in Kit Boma seeking refuge. He said some of the displaced people remained in Karpeta while others fled to Kit One Boma where he current hosts them. He confirmed to The Insider that there is no humanitarian aid that has so far been been provided to the IDPs in these locations.
“The situation is alarming.” The Chief grieved.
“You know the current situation, because of this coronavirus, where people’s movements are restricted, food security has worsened. So the problem now is the issue of food and shelter.” Chief Keri said.
Sederina Lipu who also fled her home in Kaperta village in Lobonok Payam said government forces raped women and girls, not sparing elderly women and lactating mothers.
She said they were chased into the bush where they lack many basic needs. “Now we don’t have anything to eat. We don’t have anything to cover ourselves with.” Said the 60-year old.
“Those soldiers (SSPDF) raped women and young girls. Even some of us who are elderly are raped, including women who have given birth.” She added.
“Our properties have been looted. Our children have suffered; some are shot, and others are slaughtered. Why?” Lipu demanded, adding that she sought refuge in Kit Boma with the hope of getting shelter and food.
Another IDP, Robert Modi Louis said the SSPDF also attacked villagers who were mining gold and those burning charcoal in Karpeta Mines. He reiterated that the government forces put the villagers on gun point demanding to know the rebel’s whereabouts.
“The SSPDF soldiers took our goats, chicken, food, and they beat people.” Louis said.
Louis and his family fled to Nyarbang village to avoid harassment from the national army. But despite that, Louis said the soldiers still went to where the civilians sought refuge and burnt down their temporary shelters.
Army spokesperson, Lul Ruai Koang denies SSPDF clashed committed atrocities during the clash with NAS forces in Lobonok last week, saying the SSPDF only attacked areas where rebels operated.
“We do not accept any responsibility in the first place because where they reported that lootings were committed, (and) beatings and harassment of civilians were committed, these are areas without the presence of SSPDF forces.” Koang told The Insider.
“We don’t have presence in Karpeta, Nyarbang and Nyapa. We only carried limited operations against NAS at Pai Hills because they have been mining gold at Pai Hill and smuggle it across the borders to buy firearms for them to continue their offensive operations against the government.” Koang revealed.
Sultan Silver Keri said when government forces clash with rebels it becomes hard for civilians and local chiefs to stay peacefully due to counter accusations.
“That’s why we who are the chiefs are now compelled into problems.” He said.
“Whenever rebels come, they can blame you that you’re liaising with the government and here on the other side when the government comes, they say you are accommodating rebels. So that is a very difficult situation for us the chiefs.” Sultan Keri said.
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