Bol Deng Bol, a South Sudanese civil society activist, is sounding the alarm over the violence in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area’s (GPAA) Pochalla County, calling for international community and government intervention.
Intermittent clashes have persisted in Pochalla town between Anyuak civilians and SSPDF (South Sudan People’s Defense Forces) soldiers. The initial eruption of violence between these groups occurred on September 18, following the killing of former SSPDF commander in Pochalla, Col. Okony Okwom Othow, at his residence by fellow SSPDF soldiers.
These incidents have heightened tensions in the region, with civil society raising concerns about impending violence and reports of armed Pibor youth being mobilized to attack Pochalla.
In a statement to Radio Tamazuj, activist Bol, who serves as the Executive Director of Intrepid South Sudan, said, “This situation isn’t surprising; the warning signs were clear, visible to the public, and we’ve repeatedly alerted both the public and the authorities in the country to prevent a recurrence of violence in Pochalla. The initial violence was left unresolved, and those who were overpowered regrouped, gaining momentum. This recent violence is a direct consequence of the unresolved issues from September. Regrettably, the government remained silent, and the mobilization of Pibor youth continued, leading to this latest outbreak.”
Bol, deeply concerned, stressed that if the government and the international community continue to remain passive, the situation could deteriorate into a full-blown case of “ethnic cleansing.”
He empathized with the Anyuak community, particularly the vulnerable minority population, and questioned the absence of effective international intervention, given the presence of UNMISS peacekeepers in the area.
“The Anyuak community is pitted against the government, and the ongoing violence is devastating. There has been intense fighting since Thursday, and those we’ve been warning about have arrived in Pochalla,” Bol explained.
Sunday Andrew Cham, a local chief, also voiced concerns about the government’s lack of intervention to end the violence. He inquired, “Does this mean the government is unaware of what’s happening, or is there a sinister plan to exterminate us? We called for intervention last Wednesday, and in response, the army launched indiscriminate shelling.”
Col. Acuil Ayat, the Pochalla SSPDF commander, confirmed the resurgence of clashes, explaining that they were attacked by local youths when helicopter gunships visited the area to deliver food. Col. Acuil asserted that their actions were in self-defence.