At least four people, including three Sudanese nationals, were killed in an ambush on Friday in Jonglei State’s Akobo County, according to local authorities.

Four others were injured in the attack.

Puok Nyang Tutjiek, the Commissioner of Akobo County, told Radio Tamazuj at the weekend that an ambush occurred on the outskirts of Kaikuiny Boma in Akobo West on their way from Walgak to Akobo East.

“On Friday, in a place called Kaikuiny Boma in a village called Chotroal, there was a convoy from Walgak in Akobo West to Akobo East which was ambushed by Murle criminals,” he explained. “Four people were killed including three foreign nationals and one South Sudanese and four others were injured.”

Commissioner Nyang condemned the attack and called upon the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) officials to take decisive action against the criminal elements within their jurisdiction. He emphasized the urgent need for the GPAA authorities to step up and address the lawlessness that led to the latest tragedy.

“The attack in Kaikuiny Boma surprised us with new brutality targeting all nationals, including three foreign drivers who were not spared on their business duties,” he stated. “This is the obvious indicator that Murle youth from the GPAA are not under the control of anybody but on their own.”

Nyang said the recent attacks demonstrated the clear lack of adhesion to the Pieri Peace Agreement signed in March 2021 and the recent peace conference in Akobo on 7 April 2024 which resolved to stop killings on highways, stop cattle raiding, and stop child abductions by Nuer, Dinka, and Murle communities, respectively.

For his part, GPAA Information Minister Abraham Keleng said he did not have information about the incident.

“I am not aware of that but we have reports that the youth in Uror and Akobo are mobilizing to attack GPAA,” he stated. “We heard that some youths are on the way currently coming to attack Greater Pibor.”