A fresh attack believed to be carried out by youths from Gogrial East in Warrap state left at least nine people dead in Jur River County of Western Bahr el Ghazal State, local officials said.
Jur River County Commissioner James Ernest Makuei reported the incident in Geeryic payam, northeast of Jur River County, during a press conference in Wau town on Thursday.
“We were surprised by an attack on Thursday morning by armed youth from Gogrial East, and in the attack, we lost one of our captains along with eight people, totalling nine, and four wounded,” stated Makuei. The wounded individuals have been transferred to Wau Teaching Hospital for treatment.
Makuei also disclosed that heavy joint security forces have been deployed on the Wau to Kuajok road to protect travellers. He added, “For security reasons, we have strategized a plan that, at night, there will be no movement on the road from 6:00 PM till 6:00 AM. This precaution is taken due to the fear of potential night attacks by criminals.”
“We have joint security forces from Warrap and Western Bahr el Ghazal patrolling the road,” he added.
Meanwhile, Western Bahr el Ghazal State Minister for Cabinet Affairs, Arkangelo Anyar Anyar, called on the national government to intervene immediately.
“The national government should intervene because these two communities have been living together. It requires intervention because lives have been disrupted, and some people have been displaced,” said Anyar. “As a minister, I am appealing that this senseless war is unnecessary because South Sudan has many challenges to tackle, and inter-communal conflict should not be a priority.”
With the ongoing govnoros forum in the capital, Juba, Anyar urged governors to address the issues facing their states, including the conflict between the Twic and Ngok of Abyei.
“I am appealing because the government is in a governorship forum, and this session should also address the conflicts arising between the communities of Marial-Bai and Apuk, as well as between Twic and Abyei,” he said.
Efforts to reach the Warrap State government for comments were unsuccessful.
Last week, authorities in Warrap State reported that an armed group suspected to be from Western Bahr el Ghazal State attacked Wut-Tim village in Manyang Payam, injuring four people, including a woman.
Manyang Payam is a disputed area hosting two communities—Apuk in Gogrial East County of Warrap State and Wau community in Jur River County of Western Bahr el Ghazal, as per officials.
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