Baliet Commissioner Joseph Deng speaks to Eye Radio's Sundown Program. | Photo: Moyo Jacob Felix

Baliet County Commissioner in Upper Nile State on Thursday raised concerns over the alleged presence of a militia group from Jonglei State in an area of his administrative jurisdiction, accusations that his Nyirol counterpart refuted.

Joseph Deng alleged that the gunmen from Nyirol County penetrated the area two weeks ago and occupied the Deni locality, which he said is part of Baliet County.

According to Deng, the militia group has raised the flag of Nyirol in Deni and is collecting taxes from traders in the area.

“Two weeks ago, they came and settled here, and they carried out provocative actions,” Deng said in an interview with Eye Radio.

“They raised the flag in that place and set up a collection point to collect revenue from any boat that are coming from Ulang, and when the boat reaches Deni. So, this move causes severe pressure for traders.”

The commissioner alleges that the inhabitants of the area were displaced during the 2013 civil war.

He added that the presence of the armed men poses a security threat to the residents of Baliet.

Deng appeals to Jonglei state governor, Denay Jock Chagor to investigate the actions of the militia group.

“We appeal to the government in Jonglei State, led by the Governor of the state to intervene and look into the case of these people. Because these people are causing trouble and want to stir up trouble among the people of the two areas.”

When contacted, the Commissioner of Nyirol, James Bol Makuei, denied the deployment of any forces to the area.

Instead, Makuei said the area belongs to his county and there is an administration on the ground including the police.

“Actually, there’s no cause of the threat from the other side because the people who are living there, these are the very people that are living there very longtime,’ he told Eye Radio.

“There are not any forces that we have sent because the forces should be sent from the SSPDF headquarters in Bilpam. So, here we have just police officers, there’s no forces that should be sent alone from this side.”

“So, the people who are residing these are the administrator, the police plus the community. These are the one who are staying there we are not deploying any force the deployment of the force should come from the SSPDF.”

Commissioner Makuei further called for dialogue between the neighboring counties to find a peaceful resolution to the land dispute.