At least 46 people including Mayendit County Commissioner were killed and 30 others injured in an attack by gunmen in Rubkuai area in South Sudan’s Unity State on Monday, the proposed Southern Liech state government’s spokesperson said.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Information Minister Peter Makuoth Malual confirmed that Mayendit County Commissioner and 45 others were killed in an attack carried out by armed elements on Rubkuai area on 8 August.
“The group came to Rubkuai where the commissioner was working, the area is the headquarters of Mayendit, they attacked the area and killed 46 people including the commissioner” said Makuoth.
The local official explained that about 24 SPLA soldiers and 22 civilians including the commissioner and two women were killed in the incident and that nearly 6,430 heads of cattle were taken by the attacking force.
Makuoth claimed that the attackers came from Koch County in neighbouring Northern Liech State. According to the government official, the attacking forces were sent by the government-appointed Koch County Commissioner Gordon Kuony after the Southern Liech government had asked for reinforcement from Northern Liech authorities last month.
The minister pointed out that they recently requested the Koch County Commissioner to stop dispatching any reinforcement, saying they were surprised by the attack.
Makuoth indicated that a committee was set up to investigate the incident. “There is a committee formed to know the truth and the circumstances surrounding the incident” he said.
“We also wanted to know what was the motive that led the commissioner to attack his counterpart in the same government, and also to kill other people “he added.
Southern Liech State is one of the states which came into existence after President Salva Kiir issued a controversial ‘Establishment Order’ in October 2015 to divide up South Sudan and create 28 states.