By Kei Emmanuel Duku and William Madouk
Chairperson of the Murle Community has denounced attacks over the weekend on residents of Gumuruk and Lekungole Counties allegedly perpetrated by armed youth from Luo Nuer and Dinka Bor of Jonglei State.
The attacks, which began last Friday and continued into yesterday morning, included cattle raids and forced the displacement of numerous civilians.
According to David Nigor Yangkon, Chairperson of the Murle Community Youth Association, the “white army” conducted coordinated village attacks, seizing cattle and abducting an unspecified number of women and children.
He added that the assailants advanced to Bupet and Armele Kenya Kumul County within the Greater Pibor Administrative Area.
“Based on credible reports, the attackers are believed to be members of SPLA-IO, operating in conjunction with the white army from Jonglei State,” Yangkon stated.
Estimating casualties remains difficult, as many affected civilians fled into the bush, with women and children comprising the majority of the displaced.
“People are still fleeing for their lives, and the attackers continue to engage with local forces. The exact number of casualties on both sides remains unclear, but women and children are severely impacted,” Nigor said.
The youth leader condemned the attacks on innocent civilians, questioning the continued violence despite the nation’s declared peace.
He expressed deep disappointment, citing a peace conference held in Bivouac earlier this year where the Luo Nuer, Dinka Bor, and Murle youth agreed to cease hostilities.
He further alleged that the conflict has taken on a political dimension, deviating from its initial inter-communal nature.
“They are now targeting towns, which indicates a rebellion with a political agenda. This is no longer solely about communal conflict. The situation has drastically worsened. As of now, residents from approximately 14 villages in Gumuruk County have been displaced,” the youth leader added.
Those displaced lack essential social services, including food, shelter, and clean drinking water, while sheltering in the bush.
Nigor appealed to the national government to provide security for the affected citizens and urged humanitarian organizations to provide shelter to the displaced.
He also called on the Jonglei State government to order the return of their armed youth to minimize retaliatory attacks.
“As the leader of the Murle Community Youth Association, we vehemently condemn the barbaric killing of innocent civilians in GPAA by the combined forces of Luo Nuer, Dinka Bor, and Gawar criminals from Jonglei,” he concluded.
However, Jonglei State government is yet to issue of claims.
On Sunday, Jonglei State Information Minister Nyamar Lony mentioned that she was unable to respond because she was outside the state on an official mission.