Map of Pibor Administrative Area - Credit: Eye Radio

The Minister of Information in Greater Pibor Administrative Area said armed youth who allegedly attacked villages there have left through the border with Jonglei State after raiding 3,000 cattle in two days of fighting.

On December 14, GPAA authorities reported that villages in Gumuruk County came under fire allegedly by the armed civilians from the neighboring region.

However, Jonglei government has denied that the state youth were involved in the cross-border violence.

In an interview with Eye Radio on Monday, GPAA’s information minister, Jacob Werchum, said fighting has since subsided and the area is relatively calm.

He alleged that the assailants turned back with over 3,000 cattle and a large number of villagers were displaced forced out of their homes.

“Actually, the attackers have managed to loot thousands of cattle. They are heading towards Gadiang, this side of the Jonglei,” he stated.

“They have displaced many people from those three villages that they have attacked, and they have went away with 3,000 heads of cattle. And up to now, we are yet to receive the casualties and the number of people that were affected from there.”

The violence occurred after Nicholas Haysom, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in South Sudan warned last week of a youth mobilization campaign to attack GPAA.

Minister Werchum further revealed that the authorities are planning to visit the affected areas to assess the magnitude of the violence and causalities.

He appeals to the government of Jonglei State to investigate the matter, hold raiders accountable and return raided cattle.

“We are in preparation of visiting those villages that were affected to assess the number of people that are affected and also to see the general situation there on the ground.”

“Within these two days, the government will go to the scenes where the conflict happened. The only message that I wanted to relay is that our counterparts in the jungle estate should also investigate and hold those responsible accountable because this is not good when people are at peace.”

“Let them investigate and find out why those criminals came and attacked those villages there in Greater Pibor, and then we will do also to monitor our borders so that this movement of criminals will be stopped.”

On Saturday, the Minister of Information in Jonglei State Nyamar Lony Ngundeng denied claims that local youth were involved in the recent attacks, suggesting that the perpetrators could be criminals from outside the state.

Ms. Lony confirmed that the youth in various counties remain in their respective areas and have not moved following the government’s recent communication.

She also stated that the state governor is scheduled to visit these areas next week.