The tensions that surfaced in the greater Jonglei region this week have erupted into violent attacks on the Greater Pibor area on Saturday, a local official said.
Abraham Kelang, the information minister in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), told Radio Tamazuj this morning that fighting erupted in the area Saturday morning following an attack by armed youth from Jonglei State, adding that clashes are still ongoing.
“We are under attack by armed youth from Jonglei State who entered our territory on Saturday morning. Clashes are currently still ongoing in Bich-Bich Boma, Kelero (Manyabol) Payam of Gumuruk County in Greater Nanaam,” he said.
The official, however, said details of the fighting are still scanty.
“Up to now, there are no details of those killed because clashes are still ongoing,” Kelang said. “The fighting is very heavy because the attackers are heavily armed, and they comprise Nuer and Duk youths.”
Efforts by Radio Tamazuj to reach the Jonglei State government spokesperson were futile.
Meanwhile, Machot Gatluak Kenyjak, the Uror County commissioner, denied reports that Lou Nuer youth are involved in the attack on Greater Pibor.
“We do not have any information on these attacks. We are unaware of youth who left Uror to attack Pibor,” he said.
On Wednesday, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) warned that armed youths in Jonglei State were mobilizing to attack Pibor.
“Any such upsurge of conflict will undermine recent peace gains achieved through a rapprochement between the leaders of Jonglei state and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA),” the Mission said.