You'd think that coming back to Rumbek after all the fun and games in Jamam would be nice and peaceful. But oh no. Here's an email from our security focal point yesterday. We've heard gunshots fairly regularly in town over the last week or so:
"Just another update for the day [Jacqui: rather blase!]. Yesterday night (31 Jan 2012) at 10:00 pm, a drunk young man snatched a gun from someone in Rumbek town (Ager Primary school area) and he started shooting at random any one or homestead that met his eyes. Unfortunately he wounded a man on his thigh. The police intervened and he was caught and then arrested.
On 1 Feb 2012 morning at 6:00 am, a group of police walked around in Rumbek main market where they got a Ugandan man who deals in chapati making business, sweeping his business area. They shot him and they ran away. The victim was hurried to State Hospital in Rumbek but unfortunately died after few hours. These police were later caught during the day walking in their uniform stained with a blood and were arrested.
Vigilance must be exercised by each and every staff at this critical time. Security is increasingly becoming a more unpredictable event in town."
The market has been closed down for a day or so while police sort things out and try to quell any further attacks or anger.
Add this to the events of the past week which aren't mentioned. Ollie, my good friend and manager of Safari Style Hotel, experienced a lovely wake-up call one morning last week where someone came to her compound and shot someone outside the gate, whom the security guards all knew. A shoot-out and all out brawl ensued when all the security guards went in to fight. Subsequently, and luckily no-one was killed, but a few of them had to go to hospital with injuries from being beaten with sticks (and fists and kicking, no doubt). These Dinka really know how - and want - to fight. She has also had to step up security (and these guys have guns, whereas Oxfam security are not allowed) later in the week after some locals tried to break into the hotel compound to get to her room, where she was sleeping.
And then today, another one:
"Another quick update about the security incident which occurred yesterday between the Rumbek North Commissioner and his entourage, and Mayendit county armed forces in Mayendit of Unity State. According to the verbal report, the Mayendit County Commissioner of Unity State invited the Rumbek North County Commissioner for a cross-border meeting regarding the security situation. The Rumbek North County Commissioner responded to the invitation yesterday on 1st Feb 2012 by going with his entourage to Mayendit to attend planned meeting.
However, on their arrival and before they took seats, a uniformed police shot dead two soldiers (including a close bodyguard of the Commissioner) among the Rumbek North army escort. The Rumbek North Commisioner's army escort responded by firing back. Fighting ensued as the Commissioner and his team were trying to retreat as they defended themselves. They fell into four ambushes on their way back to Rumbek North. The verbal report indicated that:
- between 22- 36 people were wounded on the Rumbek North side.
- between 8-12 people killed (including a County Agriculture Extension Supervisor working for Oxfam GB's Livelihoods project)
- 3 people were reported missing
- The Commissioner's vehicle was driven on flat tyres until it reached Maper (County Headquarters of Rumbek North).
- There is no information about the casualties on Mayendit County of Unity State side.
Our staff came back from the field, having fought off swarms of bees while trying to train Water Management Committee members in this area (!), and reported having seen loads of militia on the road.
They believe that there is going to be an all out war via cattle raiding between the Nuer and the local people in a place called Amongping, where they were training, because the community has taken hundreds of their cattle there for the good pasture. The Nuer are coming down from further north to fight, and the staff think that they'll also come to this place to steal cattle. We can only wait and see what happens ... and hope that casualties are minimal.
Everyone here, especially the Livelihoods team, is now pretty down over the whole thing, with the loss of one of their colleagues.
It's all getting a bit frightening. Apart from the gunshots I almost feel lulled into a false sense of security here in our compound. I reckon we fire all our old security guards that sleep during the night, hire some young ones that can move quicker than snails, and think about arming some people. Might just make things worse though... people here LOVE to fight.
And shoot each other.
Sigh.
When will it ever end?
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