Armed youth from Jonglei State engaged in ongoing fighting in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) have withdrawn from Gumuruk town, days after capturing it, the army and local officials said.

Clashes broke out in GPAA on Christmas Eve following an attack on the Bich-Bich area by armed Jonglei State youth. The violence broke out a few days after the UN mission warned that armed youth in Jonglei State were being mobilized to attack Pibor.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj Thursday, Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, the military spokesperson, said their forces returned to Gumuruk town Wednesday evening after the armed youth withdrew.

“The army returned to Gumuruk yesterday after the armed youth from Jonglei State withdrew by themselves,” he said.

Gen. Lul pointed out that the army is ready to fight off the attacking Jonglei State youth should they attempt to attack government-administered areas in the Greater Pibor area.

Meanwhile, Simon Peter Ajeny, the GPAA local government minister, said the situation remains dire despite Gumuruk town being under their control.

“As we speak, we are in Gumuruk town. We arrived yesterday after our army recaptured it.  The situation is dire,” Simon said. “The entire town of up to 50,000 homes, three schools, and Gumururuk PHCC are burnt to ashes.”

For his part, Gai Ker Deng, the spokesperson of Uror County youth, said: “We had a group of youth who were pursuing some Pibor youth who raided cattle in areas like Juet and Tiam. Our youth found themselves in Murle lands while trying to recover the stolen animals,” Gai said. “As youth leaders, we are engaging those youth to withdraw. About the claims that they burned villages, there is nothing as such. Those youth were just after their cattle.”