Armed youth from Jonglei State have reportedly begun retreating to their state after attacking and fighting in some areas of the neighboring Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA).
Armed youth from Jonglei State have reportedly begun retreating to their state after attacking and fighting in some areas of the neighboring Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA).
Armed Jonglei youth begin to flee Pibor
On Christmas Eve, an armed youth from Jonglei State invaded the Bich-Bich area of GPAA, which led to clashes. Days after UNMISS issued a warning about impending attacks, fighting broke out, leading to the torching of villages and the deaths of dozens on both sides.
Simon Peter Ajeny, the GPAA local government minister, said in an interview on Tuesday that fighting had subsided in some areas of Gumuruk County. This was when the attackers began to retreat to Jonglei State.
He claimed that the remaining youth groups from Jonglei State are still engaged in skirmishes near Lothila and Manyibol Payams. "There are three groups of attackers, and the first one has already left our territory and is now in Bor. The other two groups are also en route.
Although the armed youth Minister Ajeny claimed he had raided all the cattle, and had left Jonglei State, the situation for the people in his region is dire.
In Gumuruk County, there are no more cattle. In every village the attackers invaded, every woman and child was either murdered or kidnapped, the man claimed. Because fighting is still happening in some places, we cannot provide figures at this time.
Gai Ker Deng, the youth spokesperson for Uror County, also confirmed that the armed youth had left for Jonglei State. Most young people are already in Bor, the capital of the Jonglei State.
The remaining groups are traveling to either Bor or Uror, depending on their choice, due to the distance," he said.
"Hopefully, now that the fighting is over, we can cooperate peacefully with our GPAA counterparts. But, unfortunately, what occurred was the result of our Pibor brothers' provocations.
Denay Jock Chagor, the governor of Jonglei State, condemned the violence in GPAA and called for dialogue. "So far, some young people have returned, and some have arrived in Bor. He stated that some of them were returning to their home counties.
"Our message to those who instigate violence is that if you work so hard to ensure that innocent people perish, we know you, and the country will soon know you. To unite and embrace peace, we implore our people.