Bilpam has confirmed the reports of fierce fighting between its South Sudan People’s Defense Force troops and armed youth, adding that it killed a military commander in Pochalla County of Pibor Administrative Area.

SSPDF spokesperson, Major General Lul Ruai Koang said that the army has “successfully” repelled the attack in the remote administrative territory.

“The SSPDF GHQs-Bilpam would like to inform its ranks and files and the entire population that the gallant forces had successfully repelled a dare dawn attack on its Defensive position in Pochalla South County in Greater Pibor Administrative Area,” Lul said in a statement posted on his Facebook page.

“The attacking forces under the command of rebellious former Commander of the area, Col. Joseph Okony Okum were squarely beaten, and the renegade officer was neutralized in action.”

Earlier on Monday, a local official said fierce fighting erupted between soldiers of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces and local youth in Pochalla County of Pibor Administrative Area.

Pochalla County Executive Director Owiti Olung said the violence was triggered by the killing of a deposed SSPDF commander by his successor on Sunday, September 17.

Brigadier General Joseph Okony was reportedly shot dead on orders of one Commander Achuil after the victim refused to be redeployed to a new area.

According to Olung, violent clashes erupted earlier on Monday in the town and later escalated to the SSPDF headquarters in Pochalla.

He accused the army of instigating the fighting despite the local government’s appeal for calm after the alleged assassination.

“He started killing the civilians’ houses, then the fighting erupted up to now, is him Achuil who created this fighting, some of his soldiers surrendered themselves to the youth and they are with us now.”

But army Spokesperson Lul is yet to provide details on the genesis of the incident.