The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) has said that one of its officers was shot and killed along the Aweil-Meiram road on the border with Sudan on Tuesday.
The SSPDF’s Division 3 commander, Major General Akuei Ajou, told Radio Tamazuj Thursday that Captain Pensto Oromo Odongo was killed by elements suspected to be from Sudan while he was leading a patrol on Tuesday.
“The day before yesterday (Tuesday), our soldiers went out of their barracks and one of them was shot dead,” Gen. Ajou said. “We informed the peace committee in Meiram (Sudan) about the attack and asked them to find out who was responsible.”
The Aweil East County commissioner, Kiir Yor Lual, accused Messiriya tribesmen of attacking the defensive positions of the SSPDF around areas of Majak Wuoy.
“They ambushed our forces and they killed one person along the border and the incident took place three days ago,’’ Commissioner Yor said. “Apart from that, there are no other cases of killings or attacks.”
For his part, Aweil East Paramount chief Peter Kuol Makuac said communication between the Dinka Malual and Messiriya communities has been suspended following a deadly attack initiated by the Messiriya in early January.
“We do not have communication channels at all because I am the top paramount chief in Aweil East County and if there is a something, I am the one to pass it to my counterpart, Bakar, in Meiram,” Chief Makuac said. “Our relations and communication were suspended since the deadly incident that happened in early January.”