The commissioner of Ayod County in South Sudan’s Jonglei state said at least two people were injured when his convoy was waylaid by an armed group at the outskirts of the county headquarters on Thursday.
James Chuol Jiek told Radio Tamazuj that the convoy was carrying local government officials and security personnel to Wau town ahead of his visit there.
The county commissioner claimed some SPLA-IO members were involved in the attack.
“I wanted to visit Wau to hold meetings with officials there. So, my advance team left for Wau from Ayod town but on reaching Biey area, they were attacked by some individual SPLA-IO members,” he charged. “I think the reason for the attack is that some SPLM-IO officials are unhappy that we are in peace and that they have to hand over positions after I made changes.”
Meanwhile, Simon Hoth Duol, the state SPLM-IO head, and the local government minister said he has yet to receive details about the incident.
“I spoke to the commissioner yesterday and he narrated the incident to me. There was nothing to show SPLM-IO involvement. But I have not yet received the details. I think I will receive the full report this morning,” he said.
For his part, Activist Ter Manyang of the Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), said the incident was unfortunate and called on peace parties to desist from violence.
“There was a gentleman appointed by the commissioner as Paguong Payam administrator but the community do not want the man. So, this is the genesis. Two generals are inciting the violence because this person being rejected is related to them,” he said. “And the area is controlled by the SPLM-IO. Yesterday, I heard that the fighting was with White Army, not SPM-IO. For me, I want the parties to desist from violence.”