Nov 12, 2017(Nyamilepedia) — South Sudan’s army forces, loyal to president Salva Kiir, attacked a vehicle belonging to a well-known local trader Mr. Silvestor Lengengwa and looted all its content.
According to Mr. Silvestor, his truck was ambushed by SPLA soldiers today [on Sunday] at Lanyi of Amadi State at around 2pm, South Sudan local time.
Silvestor said his attackers were wearing their full SPLA uniform and carrying heavy machine guns.
Mr. Silvestor said he tried to explain to the SPLA soldiers that he spent all the little money he had to buy goods in Juba and then he was returning to his shop in Lui but the SPLA soldiers refused to show any mercy saying that they have not been paid their salaries for more than 7 months.
According to Mr. Silvestor the goods he purchased in Juba included maize meal, salt, sugar, oil, soap, clothing, coffee and agricultural tools.
Silvestor said when the soldiers saw the food items, they ululated and warned him to touch any item at his own risk.
“The SPLA soldiers emptied the truck and forced me to drive the vehicle back to Lui empty after loosing all my goods” Said furious Silvestor Lengengwa.
According to local residents, looting and robbery at gun point by the SPLA soldiers in Equatoria has increased a lot this month. Raping and torture are also reportedly on the rise.
Similar reports from Karika community of the Mundri town have alleged that a contingent of SPLA forces attacked and looted food items from Karika community on November 4,2017.
The residents, who have now fled the town, alleged that at least “seven innocent civilians were killed, forcing Karika community to all run to the bush.”
Responding to the allegations from his general headquarters in Lasu, Lt. General Wesley Welebe Samson, the SPLA-IO Deputy Chief of Staff for Training, strongly condemned the act and advised South Sudan regime “to stop killing innocent civilians and looting their scarce food items.”
“We in SPLA/M IO strongly condemn this act and advise Salva Kiir regime to stop killing innocent civilians and looting their scarce food items, as this is a crime and it is against international humanitarian law and the law of armed conflicts.” Lt. Gen. Welebe said.
“We encourage the South Sudan government army to seek peaceful political ways of ending the current conflict as they will not win this war militarily.” Gen. Welebe continued.
The office of the SPLM governor of Amadi state did not return our calls at the time of this writing.
