Pibor Administrative Area - Courtesy

Authorities in Pibor Administrative Area say more than 10,000 civilians have been displaced to the administrative capital and neighboring areas, by the inter-communal violence in Gumuruk County.

Days of fighting in Gumuruk and neighboring Lekuangole counties have resulted in the death of more than 50 people and dozens of injuries, according to officials.

John Abulla, the Deputy Chief Administrator of Pibor says those displaced are still in bushes while others are seeking refuge in Pibor town.

“In fact, you know where there is fighting, displacement will be there. The community or the population of greater Gumuruk county are not in their homes, they just ran away for their safety,” Abulla told Eye Radio from Pibor on Wednesday.

“Attackers are still there. Gumuruk is very fast and is the most populated county, and will reach above even, more than ten thousand. This is individual.”

Abulla said the armed youth from Jonglei State are still raiding the area.

He appeals to the national government and partners to help deliver humanitarian assistance to the displaced.

Call for withdrawal

Meanwhile, the government of Jonglei State is calling on its youth fighting in Greater Pibor to immediately cease hostilities and pull back from the area.

Speaking to Eye Radio on Tuesday, Jonglei State Minister of Information condemned the violence saying it is unacceptable.

John Samuel Manyuon however said the government will investigate those involved in the atrocities and bring them to book.

“We are calling on whoever is suspected to be a criminal from Jonglei to withdraw from the territory of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area,” Manyuon said.

“By this, the next step is when we verify and investigate, we will have a forefront how a rule of law can be the next step on such atrocities committed there and how we can also trace those criminals.”

Armed youth battle SSPDF

But an army official said the government forces in Gumuruk and Lokuangole of Pibor Administrative Area have already clashed with the armed youth believed to have come from Jonglei State.

The SSPDF Spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai Koang said White Army militia groups supported by some uniformed men launched simultaneous attacks on the western part of the special administrative area.

On Sunday, the Archbishop of Central Equatoria Internal Province of the Episcopal Church appealed to South Sudan communities to end hostilities and embrace peace.

Paul Yugusuk said the whole country was not able to celebrate this year’s Christmas due to the prevailing conflicts in Upper Nile State and other parts of the country.