Barricade tape for crime scene (Courtesy)

At least nine people including a military intelligence officer were killed Thursday and four others wounded in an attack on Jur River County of Western Bahr el Ghazal State, a local official said.

Jur River Commissioner, James Ernest Makuei said that locals in the Giyeri area came under attack from armed youth suspected to be from Gogrial East County of Warrap State.

Speaking to reporters in Wau town, Ernest said those killed were most civilians, but included an SSPDF military intelligence identified as Captain Dor Luol and his bodyguards.

“We were surprised this morning with an attack from people of Gogrial East. They attacked the Giyeri area, and in the violence, a captain from our side was killed along with 8 people,” Ernest said.

The commissioner said the wounded are currently being treated at a local hospital.

“We want to confirm to our people that we in Jur River County are for peace, and we call for peace among the two counties and we hope people listen to the voice of dialogue so that citizens can live in peace.”

The local government official said the state has imposed night-time curfew – banning late evening and morning travels between Wau and Kwajok towns, as a result of the attack.

When contacted, the Commissioner of Gogrial East County confirmed clashes involving youth Gogrial and Jur River County youths in an interview with Eye Radio.

Maluach Lueth said the clashes followed the burning of houses in the Panthit area by a group that Warrap alleged to have crossed from Western Bahr el Ghazal.

Gogrial East Commissioner further put the death toll of the violence to eleven people from both sides.

“This conflict raised numerous clashes, including burning of houses in a village called Panthit and they followed one another until they clashed in a place called Korjog,” he said.

Mr Lueth said the conflict would cease if the issue of the Manyang area – disputed by both states is solved and both administrations separated.

“The entire South Sudan is aware of the conflict between Jur River and Gogrial East the conflict is about the dispute over Manyang,” he said.

Mr Lueth blames the conflict on confusion that started from the creation of 32 states as well as their subsequent abolishment.