Several officials in South Sudan’s Jonglei State have warned of looming revenge attacks in parts of Fangak and Pigi counties by an armed group from the neighboring Upper Nile State.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj over the weekend, John Samuel Manyuon, the Jonglei State information minister, said there is uneasy calm in Fangak County amidst the reports.
“There is a looming tension. The commissioner (Fangak) has informed the leadership about the ongoing mobilization and the possible attack in the areas of Fangak and Pigi by the Agwelek forces and the people of Chollo in revenge for what happened,“ he said.
Fangak County Commissioner Biel Boutros, and a lawmaker representing the county in the state legislative assembly, Michael Bol, decried the dire security situation and called for intervention.
“According to information, attacks are imminent in the areas of Fangak, Atar, Diel, and Tonja where some of our youths are seeking refuge from floods,” MP Bol said. “So, we called on the state governments of Jonglei and Upper Nile, and our national government to intervene before we could see further escalation in inter-communal violence.”
Meanwhile, Pigi County Commissioner Nyok Malual Mayik said the security situation remains calm in his county.
“I was on a peace mission across my county a week ago. There is no problem. All is well,” he said. “These reports of tension are there and it is because of allegations that Agwelek forces are trying to come to this side with their armored ships. But I contacted the army’s Division 2 leadership in Malakal who said they don’t have much information.”
Lul Ruai Koang, the SSPDF spokesperson, said he was not aware of the alleged mobilization because Agwelek forces operate outside the government-controlled areas pending the implementation of a deal they had signed with the government earlier.
Radio Tamazuj could not immediately reach out to Agwelek leadership for comment.
However, in early February, Yousif Paulo, the spokesperson of the Agwelek forces refuted a report by the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) that there was a military build-up in Upper Nile State to attack areas in Jonglei state.