Insecurity and violence takes toll on South Sudan as Kiir’s government struggles to maintain law and order

July 14, 2015(Nyamilepedia) – South Sudan has been hit hard by insecurity and violence as the government of Salva Kiir struggles to maintain law and order amid a grinding 18 month old civil war and an economy facing collapse.

The country’s citizens have been left in confusion and shock as insecurity, violence and a crippled economy takes it’s toll on the young nation.

Insecurity and violence has left more than 100 South Sudanese dead in just the last two weeks alone running up to the country’s 4th independence anniversary.

A brutal civil war and a crippling economy has pushed the country and it’s citizens to the brink of survival as observers warn South Sudan is now descending into a state lawlessness.

On Independence day a soldier in Rumbek town of Lakes State shot dead four of his colleagues including one officer after argument over salary, while 3 others including children were severely injured, the soldiers claim to have not been paid for 4 month and when paid the salary was cut.

“He shot dead four, wounded two people plus a small child and kill himself,” said the acting information minister of Lakes State Jok Ayom.

A day before the independence day anniversary celebrations unknown gunmen believed to be rebels opened fire on a convoy of vehicles on Juba-Yie road killing three civilians, an eye witnessed said it was a tribal execution as all the three killed where from Dinka tribe, they where ask to get off their vehicle and murdered.

Meanwhile fighting broke out Sunday evening between two leading dinka clans in Lakes state, dozens have been reportedly killed when raiders from Agaar clan stormed a cattle camp in Yirol West County leaving more than 27 dead and dozens more injured according to Yirol county commissioner.

“That fighting took place around 6pm, over 27 people dead, including girls – one underage and then two were matured,” said Kuach Dhieu who is the Yirol West County commissioner.

While in Warrap State home of President Salva Kiir an angry soldier dropped a Granade explosive into the middle of a crowded market in Kuajok town killing 2 and leaving more than 10 others severely injured and hospitalised, the injured included 4 children and dozens of Darfur traders.

Kuajok town Mayor says the soldier had told people in the market he was ready to commit suicide with them in this town.

“He was telling the shop owners that he wants to commit a suicide. If anybody was ready to die with him then he should follow him outside,” .

“And he took the lighter from the shop. The lighter cost about three pounds. Right from there, the grenade exploded.” Shocked town Mayor Ajok Ajiek said.

The injured which included children had to be taken all the way to Wau in Western Bahr El Ghazal for treatment as Warrap State has no hospital to coup with the severe injuries.

Warrap State has been hit by arrests of opponents of governor Madam Nyandeng Malek, as well as protests over illegal arrest of individuals believed to be against the extension of the governors term by President Kiir’s.

Meanwhile in a separate incident a Policeman in Juba has shot dead his colleague after argument at a bar in Khor Romla.

“We have our force there and one of them was drunk, he took his gun and shot dead one of his colleagues and wounded one, he shot in the leg” said Maj. Gen. Saed Chawul who is head of police for Juba.

In another report from Rumbek East County, fighting broke out between the Panyon and Dhiei sections of Dinka tribe leaving more than 9 people dead from both sides. “five people were killed and seven others were wounded from Dhiei clan while four people were killed and five others were wounded from Panyon clan.” said Lakes State Information minister Jok Ayom.

Meanwhile in Western Equatoria, unknown gunmen believed to be cattle raiders attacked the town of Mundri last Friday just one day after the independence celebrations and shot dead two people.

“The people have stopped cultivating for the last three days, their livelihood is at stake, shops were looted, people were beaten; the executive officer of the payam was beaten in the presence of the army.” head of SPLM party for the area Margaret Fowzia told reporters.

Meanwhile one of the top commanders of government forces in Upper Nile Maj. Gen. Buay Rolyang has accused Dinka Apadang militia in Renk county of killing Nuer and Shilluk civilians and forcefully taking peoples properties, Gen. Buay said he was shocked by the Dinka Apadang behavior, warning he was on standby to face all those he described as tribal militia within his force.

In Juba town meanwhile, residence have reported sighting of Helicopers flying over the town all day yesterday and in the evening after reports that Mundari youth could be mobilizing ones again to carry out another raid on Kiir’s Presidential guards in the capital after giving them an ultimatum to vacate the town.

Fighting between Mundari youth and members of Kiir’s presidential guards have been raging throughout the weekend in and around the capital Juba after Mundari accused members of Kiir’s Presidential guards of killing one of their youth in cold blood.

According to fresh reports on the ground the situation in Juba and other parts of the country remain tense and unpredictable as to what could happen next.

The latest reports show that more than 1000 soldiers from police and army have today been deployed on Juba-Yei road, aswell as on Laniya to Wonduruba roads according to Central Equatoria chief of police General Saed Chawul, Chawul says insecurity has increased in roads leading in and out of the capital in recent days.

“There was a military land cruiser carrying food stuff for the soldiers in Yei, there were four soldiers in the vehicle, they were ambushed between Jebel Iraq and Ganji and they were killed. There was another car belonging to Eden Company and it had three people and they were also shot on the same road,” Said General Saed Chawul of South Sudan Police.

The violence in the young nation has reached a point where one senior government official described as being “out of control”.

“The situation is getting out of control, the government has been overwhelmed and does not have enough resources or capacity to deal with this, the country is falling between our eyes” said a government official connected to the South Sudan presidency.