Armed youth from Jonglei State who attacked and have been engaged in fighting in parts of the neighboring Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) have started retreating to their state, authorities said.

Clashes broke out in the Bich-Bich area of GPAA on Christmas Eve following an invasion by an armed youth from Jonglei State. The violence started days after UNMISS warned of pending attacks and escalated into villages being torched and dozens killed from both sides.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj Tuesday, Simon Peter Ajeny, the GPAA local government minister, said clashes had scaled down in parts of Gumuruk County as the attackers have started withdrawing to Jonglei State.

“Skirmishes are still ongoing around Lothila and Manyibol Payams with the remaining groups of youth from Jonglei State,” he said. “The attackers are divided into 3 groups and the first group already left our territories and is now in Bor. The remaining two groups are also on their way.”

Minister Ajeny said the situation of the people in his area is dire despite the withdrawal of the armed youth from Jonglei State who he accused of raiding all the cattle.

“No cattle are left in Gumuruk County. All the children and women in every village the attackers invaded were either killed or abducted,” he said. “For now we cannot give figures because fighting is still ongoing in some places.”

On his part, Gai Ker Deng, the Uror County youth spokesperson, also confirmed the withdrawal of the armed youth to Jonglei State.

“The majority of the youth are already within the territories of Bor, the Jonglei State capital. The remaining groups are also on their way to either Bor or Uror depending on what they choose because of the distance,” he said. “Hopefully, after this, we will engage in peace with our GPAA counterparts because no one was interested in fighting. What happened was out of provocation from our brothers from Pibor.”

Meanwhile, Jonglei State Governor Denay Jock Chagor denounced the fighting in GPAA and called for dialogue.

“So far some of the youth have returned and some of them have reached Bor. Some of them are going back to their counties,” he said. “Our message to those responsible for violence is that if you are working so hard to make sure that innocent people die, we know you and the country will know you soon. We ask our people to come together and embrace peace.”