The minister of information for the Pibor Administrative Area Abraham Kelang Jiji has accused Ethiopian armed youth from the Gambella region of involvement in Lekuongole attack.

Kelang called on the Ethiopian government, especially the regional government of Gambella to stop its citizens from participating in the ongoing violence in Pibor.

He says Ethiopian armed civilians have crossed into South Sudan territory and are fighting alongside armed youth from Jonglei State.

Kelang did not mention the number of the Ethiopian armed civilians he alleged to have been involved in the fight.

He confirmed to Eye Radio that Tuesday’s attack at Lekuangole involved armed youth from the neighboring Gambella region of Ethiopia.

He says the Ethiopian armed civilians have mobilized themselves and joined armed youth from Akobo in Jonglei State before confronting armed youth in Pibor.

“I want to inform the public that a few days ago, we had a conflict between the armed youth from Jonglei and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area. This is regarded as a South Sudanese conflict,” said Kelang.

“What happened yesterday [3rd January 2023] at Lekuongole County is that another community (Jikany) from the Ethiopia region came. They came along with Jikany Nuer of Gajaak and mixed themselves with armed youth from Akobo and attacked our area.”

An attempt made by Eye Radio to reach the Ethiopian Embassy in South Sudan for comment went unsuccessful.

In 2016, the armed youth from the defunct Boma State crossed from South Sudan into the bordering Gambella region of Ethiopia and launched an offensive.

According to a report from Ethiopia, 180 people were killed during the attack, and 100 children were abducted.