At least five people have been killed in clashes that started yesterday in Pibor in Boma State after bodyguards of Governor Baba Medan arrived to the town to prepare for the arrival of the governor from Likuangole.
Boma State covers the same territory as the former Pibor Administrative Area. The largest ethnic group in the area is the Murle, followed by Anyuak, Jie and Kachipo, which occupy the eastern part of the region near the Ethiopian border.
The governor’s guards are reported to have clashed with soldiers of the Cobra Faction loyal to David Yau Yau. An unconfirmed number of civilians have fled to the UNMISS compound in Pibor seeking protection.
Although some reports suggest SPLA troops were involved, a Murle tribal leader told Radio Tamazuj the fighting was between Murle groups. The same source said Baba Medan has been summoned by President Kiir to Juba from Likuangole.
Radio Tamazuj earlier reported that soldiers loyal to former Pibor Area Chief Administrator David Yau Yau have allegedly warned that they will shoot down any plane that carries the newly appointed governor Baba Medan to Pibor.
Yau Yau himself has said that he accepts the decision of President Salva Kiir not to appoint him governor of Boma State and he been in Juba since early January where is expected to be appointed to a position in the national government.
More recently, however, one of Yau Yau’s former top Cobra Faction commanders resigned from a new appointment to the Boma State government citing dissatisfaction with Baba Medan.