Armed clashes erupted on Friday evening between armed youth from Jonglei State and their Murle counterparts in Greater Pibor Administrative Area’s (GPAA) Gumuruk County, local authorities said on Saturday.
GPAA Information Minister Jacob Werchum Jouk told Radio Tamazuj Saturday that the attack was intense and escalating.
“Gumuruk County was attacked on Friday at 4 p.m. by armed youth from Uror, Ayod, and Duk counties in Jonglei State who are commanded by a spiritual leader,” he reported. “They have invaded the villages of Kibali and Nyalima of Manyabol Payam.”
The minister said their youth are putting up a fight against the advancing attackers who are heavily armed and had crossed from Jonglei State after days of mobilization.
“As we speak, fighting is still going on. These attacking youth are trying to push further, but they are being resisted by our youth,” he stated. “Fighting is raging in multiple places so we cannot tell how many people were killed or injured. However, residents have been displaced to other areas within the county.”
However, in response, Jonglei State Information Minister Nyamar Lony said they were not aware of the ongoing fighting and distanced any involvement from Jonglei.
“We have been in contact with our youth, they are still in their respective counties and no youths moved from Duk, Uror, or Ayod,” she stated.
Minister Nyamar reiterated that they are committed to fostering peaceful coexistence with their neighbors.
“Even after attacks by Pibor youth on Uror, we urged our youth not to return the raids and they are still intact. So, we are for peace,” she said. “As of next week, we will send out a peace delegation to preach peace.”
Meanwhile, Edmund Yakani, a civil society activist and the executive director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), condemned the ongoing fighting and urged government intervention.
“As a civil society, we condemn this ongoing fighting in Gumuruk County between youth from GPAA and Jonglei State. It has been on social media for a very long time that youth were mobilizing in Jonglei State to attack GPAA yet the government remained silent,” he asserted. “It is unfortunate that fighting is now raging and lives are being lost on both sides. We urge the immediate deployment of unified forces to de-escalate the tension and create a buffer.”
“It is incumbent upon the government to protect the lives of its citizens and if these attacks are left to continue, then we will witness gross human rights violations,” Yakani added.