TAMBURA – Residents of Tambura and Nagero Counties in South Sudan’s Western Equatoria State have accused officers of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) of assaulting civilians, leaving at least six youths hospitalized with serious injuries.
The alleged attacks occurred on Tuesday along the Tambura-Nagero road, heightening tensions in the already volatile region.
According to local reports, SSPDF soldiers, led by their commander James Naando, were traveling to Nagero for deployment at the Kubir Boo checkpoint when the incident took place.
Witnesses claim the soldiers began assaulting youths along the road, causing multiple injuries.
“We saw soldiers, together with their commander, James Naando, heading to Nagero. When they reached the Yubu River area, they started beating youths along the road. Many people were injured, but only six were taken to the hospital,” a local youth member told Sudan Posts.
Another community member confirmed the violence, revealing that his brother was among those beaten. He also alleged that soldiers burned down several houses in Nagero and Zomoi.
“This morning, many houses in Nagero were burnt down by these soldiers. They started in Nagero and continued to Zomoi,” the source reported.
The deployment of SSPDF forces to Kubir Boo—a region controlled by the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO)—has further escalated tensions. An SPLA-IO officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, condemned the deployment as a breach of existing agreements.
“We heard of Naando’s arrival, but how can SSPDF officers deploy in an SPLA-IO-controlled area? This is a violation. The deployment is illegal, and we will not allow it,” the officer stated, expressing fears of potential clashes.
Recent fighting between SSPDF and SPLA-IO forces in Kubir Boo has already sparked violence, with both sides vying for control of the checkpoint. Just last week, an SSPDF spokesperson announced that the SPLA-IO checkpoint at Kubir Boo had been dismantled.
The violence has forced many residents to flee their homes amid fears of further confrontations. Local reports indicate that more than six youths were hospitalized in Tambura following the assaults by Naando’s forces along the Tambura-Nagero highway.
