Shots Echo in Yambio Night
Residents of Napere, Masia and central Yambio say the rattle of automatic weapons began at dusk on Saturday and did not fade until dawn. Many families huddled indoors as sporadic bursts lit the sky and dogs barked at unseen shooters.
Hospital Confirms Fatalities
By morning, two motionless bodies reached Yambio State Hospital. Medical director Dr. Konjo Samuel confirmed both succumbed to gunshot wounds and were declared dead on arrival, their identities unknown. “Further examinations are underway,” he told Radio Tamazuj.
Authorities Launch Probe
Acting Minister of Information James Abdallah Arona appealed for patience, noting that investigators were “collecting facts before drawing conclusions.” He declined to speculate on which armed elements might have exchanged fire or whether the victims were caught in crossfire.
Community Voices Concern
Civil society activist Wanga Emmanuel urged authorities to relocate uniformed forces from densely populated zones and strengthen policing. “Guns should not govern Masia; civilians need assurance,” he said, while advising residents to stay indoors whenever shooting erupts.
Rumours and Verification
Some households reported looted shops and unverified injuries, including a student and an elderly woman. Radio Tamazuj could not independently confirm those accounts, and hospital officials said no wounded patients linked to the incident had arrived by midday Sunday.
Regional Security Context
The overnight gunfire underscores simmering tensions across Western Equatoria. Security analysts note unease has grown since President Salva Kiir removed SPLM-IO governor Alfred Futuyo Karaba in February, unsettling the delicate power balance in the state’s capital.