By Deng Ghai Deng
Over the past four months, Uror County has witnessed a surge in violence and cattle raiding attributed to suspected armed criminals from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA).
Recent reports indicate a significant toll on local communities, with multiple casualties and ongoing threats to safety, a according to press statement issued by the office of the commissioner on Monday.
The statement detailed several harrowing incidents. Notably, on June 4, Makuach Majiek Liep, 35, was shot in Partet, marking an ugly beginning to a series of violent acts.
The frequency of cattle raids has escalated, with a particularly alarming incident occurring on September 17, when 24 cattle were stolen from Partet village, although these were later recovered, the violence continued unabated.
On September 24, an ambush between Pajut and Poktap resulted in the deaths of three men, while a 21-year-old woman, Nyahol Puot Gokgok, was abducted.
Uror County authorities have condemned these acts of violence and called for urgent intervention from the GPAA government to apprehend the perpetrators and ensure the safe return of abducted individuals.
“We strongly urge the GPAA to take decisive action against these criminal elements,” stated the Commissioner’s Office.
“The people of Uror County remain committed to the resolutions from the Pieri peace conference of March 2021, advocating for peaceful coexistence and mutual respect between our communities,” it added.
Tragically, the violence did not relent. On October 21, armed men raided cattle in Juet village, leading to a confrontation on October 24, where three people were killed and seven others wounded as local youth attempted to recover stolen livestock.
The total casualty count from these incidents includes at least four confirmed deaths, with additional injuries and ongoing threats to community safety.
Oleya Akuer Nyaluth, the minister of information in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area said he has no information about any recent attack carried out by armed men from his area.
But he said GPAA government is exerting efforts in carrying out peace mobilization with an aim to reduce violence, cattle raids and child abduction among the Area communities and their neighbours.
“We conducted 2 peace campaigns in July moving from Liguangule and Gumuruk, we talked to traditional leaders and youth leaders about peace to stop random killings, raiding and child abduction. The peace campaign is a continuous process in December we have another peace conference that will take place in Juba,” Nyaluth said.
Cattle raids and child abductions are a common occurrence in Jonglei and Greater Pibor Administrative Area despite many goodwill agreements aimed at subsiding the violence.