By Tereza Jeremiah Chuei
The Commissioner of Mayom County of Unity state and eleven others have been killed yesterday in a deadly fresh attack.
The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the South Sudan People’s Movement (SSPM) have traded accusation on the fresh clashes in Mayom County of Unity State that reportedly left the residence of Mayom County Commissioner vandalized to ashes with scores of corpses.
This came after a brief attack in Mayom County of Unity State, at the wee hours of Friday morning allegedly by rebel leader General Stephen Buay Rolnyang that led to the death of the Mayom County Commissioner James Chuol Gatluak including other members.
The Fighting erupted in Mayom town on Friday at around 2 AM on the 22 July 2022 between Forces loyal to Gen. Stephen Buay, the leader of South Sudan People’s Movement/ Army (SSPM/A) and a contingent of South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) stationed at Mayom town.
A letter released by the office of the Executive Director of Mayom County as seen by No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper listed 12 names of people killed in the attack including the Commissioner of Mayom County, James Chuol Gatluak and 11 officers of different ranks belonging to various organized forces.
The Executive Director also listed 13 people who were wounded as a result of the clashes including a girl and a woman among the injured while the eight of them are police officers, two SSPDF officers with the rank of captain and one soldier in the rank of private.
In another statement seen by No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper, Buay claimed responsibility for the attack and accused SSPDF forces led by 4th infantry Division Commander in Bentiu of starting the attack against their forces in Mayom County.
“Major Gen. Kerubino Ruay Tap, the SSPDF commander of 4th infantry Division came to Mayom town, Unity State last week with the intention to clear Mayom area of the SSPM/A forces and launched an attack on SSPM/A forces at Bong on 21/7/2022, around 3:00 AM” read part of the statement.
However, according to the Spokesperson of the SSPDF Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai, “the rebel started the mission of targeting the Commissioner and they have succeeded in assassinating Commissioner James Chuol Gatluak along with other nine people including his body guards at around 2:00 am of 22/ 7/ 2022,” Gen. Lul Ruai told No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper.
“We have mobilized the security forces and I am sure they will be found, and they are being hunted down now and I am sure they will get them because they are not many, however calm is reported now in Mayom,” he added.
The SSPDF spokesperson affirmed that Mayom town, the headquarters of, Mayom County in Southern Unity State was attacked by rebels loyal to his rebelled SSPDF former General Stephen.