Nyea Akway Agada, King of the Anyuak of Greater Pibor Administrative Area, has urged his people to distance themselves from any conflict and live in peace with each other. The king said this while addressing a congregation of mourners in Juba yesterday.

The occasion brought together senior officials from theGreater Pibor Administrative Area all of whom appealed for harmony among the divided counties of Pochalla in their remarks, following recent violence between people of Pochalla North and South.

The brother of one of the victims of the recent Pochalla fight broke into tears and said the death of his brother should not be used for revenge in the area.

“I have forgiven those who killed my brother,” he said.

For his part, the king also denied allegations that his own bodyguards were involved in the Pochalla fight, which took place at a food distribution site. He was responding to some reports published on social media and local newspapers linking his guards to the fighting.

But he criticized political leaders saying, “The government in Pochalla does not cooperate with the traditional leaders in the area.” He noted also, “The recent fight was politically motivated.”

The king called for an independent investigation into the cause of the fight. “Let nobody take the law into his own hands but give law and order a chance.”