South Sudan: 12th Aug - 3 killed, 40 missing after LRA attack in Ezo county, Western Equatoria

Note these puzzling details in the following report from Sudan Radio Service:

"The forces that came were heavily armed LRA and probably did not face much resistance because they came in between the Ugandan Armed forces on one side and the Sudan armed forces on the other. So when they went towards the house of the commissioner they could not fire because of the Ugandan Army forces.

The Uganda armed forces were also thinking if they opened fire, they might kill some Sudanese Armed forces. So the result is they managed get out with being attacked, but at least 3 people are reported to have been killed.”

Here is a copy of the report by Sudan Radio Service, Friday, 14 August 2009:
USSF Leader Describes LRA Attack on Ezo

(Yambio) – Three people were killed and 40 others are missing after an attack by the Lord’s Resistance Army in Ezo county in Western Equatoria state on Wednesday 12th.

Speaking to Sudan Radio Service producer David Sanango, the leader of United South Sudan Party, Clement Mbugoniwia, described what happened.

[Clement Mbuniwia]: “What we know so far is that the day before yesterday, a group of LRA were able to enter Ezo from the Catholic church side, so they penetrated the town and they were able to launch a series of attacks within the town itself after which almost 40 people are reported missing and at least over 40,000 people are now displaced in Ezo county. Among them are 5000 refuges from Congo who were already there. 

The forces that came were heavily armed LRA and probably did not face much resistance because they came in between the Ugandan Armed forces on one side and the Sudan armed forces on the other.  So when they went towards the house of the commissioner they could not fire because of the Ugandan Army forces. 

The Uganda armed forces were also thinking if they opened fire, they might kill some Sudanese Armed forces. So the result is they managed get out with being attacked, but at least 3 people are reported to have been killed.”

[Sanango]: Can you describe the situation at the moment?

[Clement Mbuniwia]: “It happened from 5 up to 9 o’clock pm. They were roaming around the town. At least last night people slept well, but I was in contact with the commissioner this morning and he said the situation is bad, especially on the humanitarian aid side, as far as food, water and medical supplies are concerned. All the NGOs that were in Ezo were evacuated last evening so the situation is a little bit less tense.”

[Sanango]: Can you estimate the number of people who have been injured in the attacks?

[Clement Mbuniwia]: Around 30 to 40 people were seriously injured; some of them were actually cut with machetes, not necessarily gun shots.

Clement Mbugoniwia was speaking to Sudan Radio Service from Yambio.

Click on 'Jonglei' label in footnote here below for related reports and updates.

LRA rebels will not return to Uganda despite fresh attacks in DR Congo -Uganda
Uganda Watch, Friday, August 14, 2009.

Southern Sudan : Food crisis warning

Global Arab Network - English News - Adam Turner - ‎Aug 12, 2009‎

In Yambio, some of the 73000 displaced people who had been living in surplus crop-producing areas, including Ezo, Maridi, Yei and Mundri, ...

Ugandan rebels 'launch new raids'

BBC News - ‎Aug 2, 2009‎

The south Sudanese town of Ezo was also attacked recently by the LRA, which has a history of rape and killings. The LRA uses its base in the Democratic ...

USSP on GoSS: Insecurity in S. Sudan is due to the LRA, men on horseback from N. Sudan, armed groups and individuals

From Sudan Radio Service, Wednesday 05 August 2009:
USSP Official Criticizes GOSS Security Policy

(London) – The deputy leader of the United South Sudan Party, Brian Badi, is calling on the Government of southern Sudan to contain insecurity and prepare southern Sudanese for the next elections and the referendum.

Speaking to Sudan Radio Service by phone from London on Wednesday, Badi described the situation as he saw it in southern Sudan.

[Brian Badi]: “As far as security is concerned, I think I would categorize the causes of insecurity in southern Sudan into five categories, 

A, is the LRA, the Ugandan rebels. 

B, is the Ambororo, the Janjaweed or people on horseback who come from the north. 

C, is the armed groups or militias in the south. 

D, I would say are the individuals who possess illegal arms or weapons, individuals roaming about in southern Sudan with illegal weapon in their hands. 

E, is the soldiers who take the law into their own hands and use their guns to commit crimes.

Because, one, they misunderstand their own national role and their obligation to the citizens and the civil population.   Two, because they are not paid salaries and of course if you don’t pay people salaries, you don’t give them their dues, how do you expect them to live and how do expect their families to survive? These make them take the law into their own hands and of course they go about robbing people in the villages, looting and raping etc.”

Badi said the Government of southern Sudan should start asking itself what it has achieved in the last four years.

[Brian Badi]: “The Government of southern Sudan has been in power for four years, four years is a long period. It is actually the full length of the government and if a government has not performed in four years then it can ask itself - or the citizens have a right to ask - what have they been doing? 

They have always been giving lame excuses that south Sudan has just come out of war. The war ended a long, long time ago and they have been in power for four years. That is a long enough period for them to have made substantial improvements.”

The deputy leader of the United South Sudan Party, Brian Badi, was speaking to Sudan Radio Service from London on Wednesday.