By Bida Elly David
Jonglei State government has reported an attack by youth suspected from Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) that claimed lives of 7 travelers.
The state Acting Information Minister, John Samuel Manyuon said four people were killed in Duk County and three others in Uror County.
According to the minister, the recent attack was a continuation of past incidents.
Manyuon said the incident indicated that the youth of the GPAA were not enthusiastic for peace between the two states.
“The people and the government of Jonglei State were shocked, saddened, and concerned by the continuous attacks by the Murle-armed youth from GPAA,” he said.
The state government condemned the barbaric attack and called on the GPAA government to inform the Murle youth to desist their act.
He called on the GPAA to call back their youth who he said are terrorizing the communities of Jonglei and hold the culprits accountable.
Manyuon reiterated their commitment to the peaceful resolution of the violence, killings, cattle raiding, and child or woman abduction.
He called on the national government, international community, and peace partners to intervene in addressing the crisis before it worsened.
However, Abraham Kelang, the information minister of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), dismissed the accusations against the Murle youth.
He said that they were for four days peace awareness with the youth and wanted the commissioners to engage them to stop fighting.
“We in the GPAA government didn’t know about that attack from Jonglei. If any accident happens, let them first find out full details about whether the attackers are from GPAA so that the government finds out what happened,” he told this outlet on phone interview.
He slammed the Jonglei State government for making press statements before letting them know about the attack.
He emphasized that they have the mandate to visit the attacked areas.