Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The Commissioner of Guit County, Simon Diu Liliey, has dismissed claims that youth from his county were behind a deadly attack that left two civilians and one soldier dead at the Man-awal oil site in the Ruweng Administrative Area on Monday morning. His denial comes amid rising tensions and repeated accusations linking Guit County to cross-border violence.
The incident, reported earlier by Ruweng authorities, involved an armed assailant who attacked an SSPDF barracks and petroleum workers stationed at the oil facility.
Two casual labourers working for a company from Lake No were killed on the spot, and a soldier from the Petroleum Protection Unit later died from injuries sustained during the confrontation. Officials in the Ruweng Administrative Area had pointed to a suspected youth from Guit County as the perpetrator.
But Commissioner Simon Diu says the accusation is misplaced and reflects a pattern of what he describes as “habitual blame” directed at his county whenever violence erupts near the shared border.
“There is no attack that has been carried out by Guit youth in the Ruweng area,” Simon insisted. “The attacks that have happened came from other counties, not Guit County. Because we are close to them, whenever there is any attack, they suspect us. But when the truth is found, the criminals usually come from other counties, not from Guit.”
His remarks highlight a growing frustration among local leaders in Guit County, who say their communities are repeatedly blamed without thorough investigations.
The commissioner emphasised that these accusations strain relations between ordinary communities and risk fuelling suspicion and retaliation.
Simon, however, acknowledged that the broader insecurity along the Ruweng–Unity border is a shared concern that demands joint action.
He appealed to authorities on both sides to strengthen coordination, share accurate information, and address the criminal networks exploiting the porous border.
Meanwhile, officials in the Ruweng Administrative Area, including Minister of Communication and Information James Monylual Mijiok, maintain that the attacker originated from Guit County.
James reported that the incident occurred when an armed individual stormed the Petroleum Protection Unit position and targeted workers clearing grass around the oil well. He continues to call for urgent dialogue between Ruweng and Unity officials to prevent further violence.
Despite the conflicting accounts, both leaders agree on one point: insecurity along the border remains a persistent threat to civilians and to the stability of vital oil-producing zones. Cooperation, they say, is the only path toward lasting peace.
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