Government officials in Boma State on Monday said armed youth from neighbouring Jonglei State attacked Kotchar area, using heavy weapons since Friday last week.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, John Achuan, Minister of Information in Boma State, said unconfirmed numbers of people were killed and large numbers of families were displaced as a result of the recent attack on Kotchar.

 “On Friday, those youth attacked Kotchar and this today morning (Monday) they are advancing to Manyibol. Yes, there are casualties but up to now we did not know many because there is no network in that area,” said Achuan.

Achuan, who is also the government spokesman, accused government forces of being behind the attack, saying they communicated with officials from neighbouring Jonglei state so that they can discuss and solve the issue but they have gotten no response so far.

He reiterated his call to the Jonglei government, the national government and the United Nations to quickly intervene and resolve the conflict.

For his part, Jonglei Minister of Information, Akec Dengdit, denied any knowledge of the incident. Instead, he accused the Murle youth from Boma state of stealing more than 10,000 heads of cattle from Wangule, Mathuwit, Duk Panyang and Duk Padiet last week. 

“There are no youth who went to Boma but what I know so far is that there are some cattle camp youth who are trying to go and get their cattle back,” he said.

Dengdit further said they have pleaded with Boma government to return stolen cattle, but the demand has not been met.

Tensions have been mounting between the two states over cattle raiding incidents.