A fight between the Amuol and Kongor subclans of the Panyar section of the Gok Community of Tiaptiap Payam in Lakes State’s Cueibet County over the impregnation of a girl on Wednesday left three people dead and six others wounded.
Acting Information Minister William Koji told Radio Tamazuj that local leaders and government officials intervened, stopped the fight, and that the injured people are receiving treatment at the local health center.
“What led to conflict among the section of Panyar in Tiaptiap Payam was related to a girl being impregnated. 3 people lost their lives and 6 others were wounded,” he explained. “The two groups that were fighting were separated, and one group went to the eastern part of the payam, while the other went to the western part.”
“The government will identify the culprits and they will be investigated and brought to book,” Minister Kwoji added.
He said customary law in the state addresses issues to do with girls getting pregnant and adultery, among others, and that communities should not resort to violence and killings to resolve such disputes.
“Issues to do with girls eloping and pregnancy out of marriage should be taken to the police. That is why we have local chiefs and courts at the payam, county, state, and even up to the Juba level. Why do people ignore these courts and resort to violence?” he asked, adding: “If somebody takes the law into his hands by killing, then the government will take it seriously and hold them accountable.”
For his part, Juol Nhomngek, a parliamentarian who represents Cueibet County in the National Legislature, confirmed the deadly intercommunal fighting but said 5 people were killed.
“In the interclan fighting between the Amuol and Kongor subclans of the Panyar section of Tiaptiap Payam, 4 people were killed from one side and 1 from the other,” he stated.
Nhomngek however attributed the fighting to the arrest of Deng Mario Deng, the SPLM-IO-appointed commissioner of Cueibet County, by Governor Gen. Rin Tueny Mabor, saying it has left an administrative vacuum.
This publication established that Governor Mabor summoned Deng to Rumbek on 15 April.
Since Deng’s departure, Cueibet County has faced intercommunal clashes with neighboring areas, including Tonj South, Tonj East, and Rumbek Central.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj in Rumbek on Wednesday, Commissioner Deng confirmed the summons but denied being arrested.
“I was called to Rumbek by the governor, but I do not know if it is an administrative or political matter,” he said. “He told me to wait for his return from a visit to Yirol West County.”