Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The United States Embassy in Juba has called on both the state and national governments to resolve the cyclic bout of clashes in Jonglei State through dialogue.
The embassy issued a statement yesterday accusing some government and military officials of fuelling violence in Jonglei State.
“The United States is watching with deep concern the on-going violence in Jonglei State and encourages all sides to seek a resolution of their differences through peaceful dialogue,” the statement read in part.
“We call upon state and national leaders to condemn the brutality and rely on the government of South Sudan to hold accountable those stoking the flames of violence, including government and military officials.”
Last month, the Minister for Interior, Mahmoud Solomon Agok, and the Inspector General of Police, Majak Akech Malok, met President Salva Kiir Mayardit over the security situation in Jonglei State following the Baidit attacks.
Agok assured the citizens of the government’s endeavour to restore peace and stability in the state, including the church crisis.
The attack
The Jonglei State Police Commissioner, Maj Gen Joseph Mayen Akoon, said the Baidit attacks left 63 dead, over 24 wounded and 2,600 herds of cattle were raided.
This came after a series of attacks in different parts of Jonglei State that raised the number of deaths toll to 76 after the attack.
Akoon said 33 were killed among Baidit residents while 30 of the attackers were killed including two that he said were identified to be from Greater Pibor Administrative Area.
“The situation is normal except for the recent incidences; the one in Baidit and the one between Gadiang and Uror in which we have lost 7 people plus 7 wounded.
“And yesterday (Saturday), one of the trucks was attacked in which five people were also killed. There were no [people] wounded. I received a message this afternoon (Sunday) about somebody who had been killed around Pajut and Panyang,” Mayen said.
“I don’t know about the side of the Murle, but what I heard recently is that they are denying the incident of Baidit in which 33 people were killed. They are saying they are not the ones who committed that crime. But about 30 people were killed by them. The two dead bodies were identified as people from Pibor because they were lying in Baidit during the incident.”
He warned that perpetuated attacks might result in escalating insecurity and deny the citizens of both Jonglei State and Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) peace and instability.
“Our problem began in 2019-2020 when the youth of the nine counties became annoyed because of the activities of our brothers from Pibor. All the youth in the state went to Pibor, which was a disaster. When they came back in 2020, it was really bad and the authorities in these counties were not thinking that this thing would repeat itself,” Mayen said.
“The government of Jonglei State is trying its best to convince the youth. Recently, the youth of some counties were trying to go to GPAA, but the commissioners were told to convince them not to go.”
The police commissioner said that the way forward would be to disarm the youth in the two areas to limit the attacks.
“Both sides are all armed. The youth are well-armed. We wish that what happened in Lakes State should happen here to disarm all the youth from all the communities,” the Jonglei State Police Commissioner concluded.
Willing to investigate
The deputy chief administrator of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), John Joseph Abulla, told the City Review after the attack that they would investigate the crimes committed by what he called “suspected criminals from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area.
“We will remain very vigilant to investigate and trace out those who committed the atrocities in Baidit so that they will be accountable for what they did. We are committed to cooperating and finding a lasting solution to the problem. Because we cannot just continue seeing our young men, children, and women dying without reason,” he added.
The deputy chief administrator said they had dispatched a committee to Gumuruk to monitor the border and apprehend anyone found crossing with cattle.
He added that their government would go to the grassroots to investigate and arrest the suspected criminals.
“On Monday, when we received the official call from the acting governor, I sent a team from Greater Gumuruk to join the commissioner so that they would be able to monitor the border. Whoever is found with cattle, or involved in the attack will be apprehended and brought to book,” he concluded.
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