SSPDF Chief of Defense Forces General Santino Deng Wol. |Courtesy

SSPDF Chief of Defense Force General Santino Deng Wol led a high-level security delegation to Pochalla County in Pibor Administrative Area on Saturday to assess the security situation.

General Wol was in the volatile region with the Director-General of Internal Security Bureau, General Akol Koor Kuc, and Chief of Military Intelligence, General Stephen Marshalle.

The visit comes nearly three months after vicious fighting erupted in the area between the SSPDF and local armed youth, leaving more than 10 people dead and several others injured.

SSPDF said the fighting where it employed aerial bombardment occurred after local youth launched a brutal attack that breached the defensive trenches of its barrack.

But local officials said the violence was triggered by the killing of native commander Colonel Joseph Okony by elements in the army after he refused redeployment to a new area.

The conflict in the area comes as a result of the longstanding demand by Pochalla to break away from the Pibor Administrative Area.

Responding to their appeal, General Santino Deng Wol said the army does not make administrative decisions, adding that it is the president that can decide through consultation.

General Wol, however, said the government is committed to achieve peace and stability in the area.

“The issue of people of Pibor is a government concern, and whatever we tell you is written in the law of South Sudan,” Wol said.

“We do not just make decisions. If there is any decision to be made, it has to be through consultation with the president, then we involve the civilian police to implement their job.”

For his part, His Majesty King Akway Nyigwo of the Anyuak people, called for peaceful co-existence among the communities in the area.

“We need to stay together in peace. Some time back, we used to stay together without tribalism and love ourselves, if there is peace, people will live but if there is hatred, it causes death.”