Three soldiers and a woman were killed when an armed tribal group attacked the Mangala area in Central Equatoria State on Saturday during a celebration of the inauguration of the new Mangala County government.

A witness told Radio Tamazuj that the three soldiers were guards of the new commissioner of Mangala and that they were attacked after raising the flag of the new 'Jubek State' in the Mangala County headquarters.

According to the Commissioner of Mangala County Elario Paul Pataki, the attack was carried out by gunmen of the Mundari tribe who oppose the annexation of the area to Jubek State.

The area formerly belonged to Terekeka County, now renamed Terekeka State under plan by President Salva Kiir to redraw the country's administrative boundaries.

“They attacked people at the celebration. But they opened fire from the island,” he said, referring to an island in the Nile.

Citizens of Mangala fled the area after government troops returned fire against the attackers, according to a witness who was part of the delegation when it was attacked. He said some of them walked through the bush southward until they reached Juba.

Seven soldiers were also wounded in the attack, said the same member of the delegation.

The attack on Saturday comes after another report of a clash the previous day. Speaking on Friday, Minister of Information Michael Makuei said, “A group of armed Mundari attacked the SPLA force at Koda. This morning they attacked the SPLA force at Koda, and one of them was captured.” No further information was yet available.