CEPO Executive Director Edmund Yakani. [Photo: Courtesy]JUBA – A South Sudanese civil society watchdog has urged leaders in the Ruweng Administrative Area and neighboring Unity State to urgently pursue dialogue to prevent possible retaliatory violence following the recent massacre of civilians in Abiemnom County.
The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) on Tuesday warned that tensions remain high after the deadly March 1 attack on Abiemnom, which civil society networks say left nearly 200 civilians dead, including nine members of organized forces.
The assault also left dozens injured and displaced thousands of residents. At least 23 wounded civilians were transferred to Turalei in Warrap State for treatment, while more than 100 others were moved to Rumamer County.
More than 1,000 people were forced to flee their homes, with many seeking refuge at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) compound in Ruweng, while others fled to Rumamer, the Abyei Administrative Area, and Ajak-Kuach in Warrap State.
CEPO Executive Director Edmund Yakani said the situation could escalate if authorities fail to address grievances surrounding the killings and hold those responsible accountable.
“There are signs suggesting a possible retaliatory response from Ruweng directed at the population and citizens of Unity State, which could also lead to repercussions for individuals from Ruweng residing in Unity State,” Yakani told Sudans Post on Tuesday.
He warned that the cycle of revenge could further destabilize relations between the two neighboring administrative areas if urgent preventive measures are not taken.
Yakani therefore called on the leadership of both Unity State and the Ruweng Administrative Area to convene an urgent meeting aimed at defusing tensions and encouraging dialogue between communities.
“Therefore, we are calling on the governor of Unity State and the chief administrator of the Ruweng Administrative Area to urgently commission a meeting and embrace dialogue to resolve the misunderstanding,” he said.
“There is no need to watch and allow revenge to take place in any part of the two political administrative areas.”
Beyond dialogue, CEPO also called for a transparent and credible investigation into the Abiemnom killings to ensure those responsible are identified and brought to justice.
“Our demand is that the investigation must be transparent and it must be real so that perpetrators behind this incident should be identified and held accountable for the crimes they have committed in Abiemnom,” Yakani said.
He emphasized that protecting civilians and upholding human rights must remain a priority for authorities in both areas, warning that any retaliatory attacks against civilians would constitute serious human rights violations.
“The top leadership of the two administrative areas need to urgently meet and prevent any possible revenge that may take place under their leadership,” Yakani said.
He added that civil society organizations are ready to support peace efforts and help facilitate dialogue among communities affected by the violence.
“As civil society, we will stand up and join hands to facilitate dialogue among our communities,” he said.
