The authorities in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) on Thursday vowed to arrest all the perpetrators of last week’s attack in the neighboring Kapoeta East County of Eastern Equatoria State and said that all abductees will be recovered and reunited with their families.

On 23 April, at least 30 people were reportedly killed and dozens injured while thousands of cattle were raided when heavily armed youth suspected to have crossed from GPAA attacked a Kauto village in Kapoeata East County. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but Eastern Equatoria State authorities accused their Murle neighbors of the involvement.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Abraham Kelang, the GPAA Information minister, confirmed that their youths were indeed involved in the attack, condemning it as barbaric, and said that they will be held accountable.

“On 23 April, our youth attacked Kautu Payam in Kapoeata East County. As the government of Greater Pibor, we condemned in the strongest term possible the attack by our youth because this action by individual criminals can destroy the peace between Eastern Equatoria and GPAA,” he stated. “A security committee was formed and deployed to Jebel Boma and Muruou and it has been confirmed that our youth indeed attacked Kapoeata East.”

Kelang added: “As soon as the committee returns with the findings, forces will be sent to recover the abducted women and children and we want to assure Eastern Equatoria that those involved will be arrested and the abductees recovered to be reunited with their families.”

The GPAA government spokesperson called for calm and promised the aggrieved families justice.

“As a government, we extended our condolences to the affected families and the government of Eastern Equatoria and we promise to deliver justice by arresting those involved and recovering the abducted women and children because actions by criminals should not destroy the alliance between the two governments,” he concluded.

Cattle raids have been commonplace among the communities of GPAA and Eastern Equatoria, leading to killings, abductions, and the closure of a lifeline route through which Pibor gets supplies from Juba and Eastern Equatoria.