Five people have been killed and six others injured in two separate incidents in Raat, a border town in South Sudan’s Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA).
The attacks happened on Wednesday, raising concerns over worsening security in the area.
Owety Olung, the commissioner of Pochalla South County, told Radio Tamazuj that the first incident occurred at a mining site on Wednesday morning.
“One person was killed, probably beaten to death,” he said.
Later that day, a truck carrying Ethiopian traders and local soldiers was ambushed while travelling to a nearby bush to collect poles, Olung said.
He said two Ethiopians were killed and two others injured. One soldier was killed at the scene and six others were wounded, he added. One of the injured soldiers later died in hospital the following day.
The commissioner condemned the attacks, saying competition over resources is contributing to insecurity in the area. He said the attackers may have come from a neighbouring community, but did not provide further details.
Nyigwo Badok, a GPAA lawmaker in the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, also expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation.
He accused the GPAA authorities of failing to take sufficient action to protect residents.
“As lawmakers, we have been moving to offices to garner support to address the security concerns, but our efforts have been in vain,” he said.
“Over the past few months, several people have been killed in attacks and road ambushes. We urge the GPAA government not to remain reluctant but to step in,” he added.
and then