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Rubkona – Al-Wadi Newspaper
Calm has returned to the internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in the city of Rubkona, Unity State, following semi-armed clashes that erupted last night inside one of the camps between state government police forces and elements affiliated with opposition forces who had been participating in securing the camp after it was officially handed over to the government.
A female resident, who requested anonymity, said the camp witnessed an exchange of gunfire between the joint forces, before elements affiliated with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) under the leadership of Dr. Riek Machar withdrew. She noted that these forces had not been formally integrated into the state police, despite their previous role in securing the camp.
She confirmed that calm has since returned, although a number of shops remain closed, adding that some commercial premises were subjected to looting during the incident.
Local media reports indicated that three people were killed in last night’s confrontations. Sources said that detailed information about the casualties remains unclear, as no official statement had been issued at the time of writing.
Meanwhile, Unity State Minister of Information, Hon. Nyakenya Yohannes stated in a press release that the security situation has stabilized, noting that local authorities, in coordination with security agencies, have reinforced their presence in and around the camps to protect civilians and safeguard property.
She added that the government has taken a number of precautionary measures to prevent a recurrence of violence and to strengthen security and stability in the city, calling on citizens to remain calm and cooperate with the relevant authorities in the interest of maintaining public peace.
