By Bida Elly David
An attack on a convoy carrying communication equipment has left one person dead, and others assaulted in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA).
The attack reportedly occurred on May 23, 2024, when a company called Universal Service and Access Fund (USAF), contracted by the National Communication Authority (NCA), was on a trip delivering telecommunication towers and building materials to Gumuruk of the GPAA.
In a statement seen by No. 1 Citizen Daily Newspaper over the weekend, the attackers were believed to have been armed youth from the administrative area.
“The drivers and construction engineers were physically assaulted; one law enforcement personnel escorting the convoy was killed,’’ the statement reads.
The company has been mandated under Section 73 of the National Communication Act 2012 to develop and deploy communication services to cover the South Sudan population.
“This includes urban, rural, and remote areas to ensure universal services and access,’’ NCA noted in the statement.
Upon this, the national communication authority condemned the attack, saying the GPPA community requires support.
“The NCA unequivocally condemns this violent attack on development efforts; the GPAA is in dire need of communication services; many are currently without access to basic amenities like roads and reliable communication,’’ the NCA stated.
NCA, in their statement, demonstrated efforts towards protecting network engineers and experts tasked with extending services to rural areas.
“Despite these challenges, NCA and their partners remain committed to the goal of expanding connectivity to the remote parts of the country to alleviate the communities in need,’’ the statement added.
Furthermore, they assured the mobile operators of their commitment to their safety and their materials.
“The NCA reassures mobile network operators (MNOs) that their assets are secured and collaborative measures with the state government are being taken to enhance the safety of network personnel and infrastructure,’’ the NCA promised.
NCA, with its steadfast resolution to improve connectivity in rural areas nationwide, urged the operators to intensify their efforts in expanding and enhancing quality services throughout the country.
The government of GPAA, through a post on their official website, confirmed the incident.