Map of Greater Pibor Administrative Area. (Photo: Courtesy).

Local officials in Pochalla County have blamed deadly insecurities on the government in the Pibor Administrative Area – a day after fierce fighting flared up between armed youth and SSPDF troops resulting in unspecified casualties.

On Monday, 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.

The late, Colonel Joseph Okony, was reportedly shot dead on orders of one Commander Achuil after the victim refused to be redeployed to another barrack.

According to Director Olung, intense fighting erupted on Monday in the town and later escalated to the SSPDF headquarters in Pochalla.

The local official accused the army of murdering the commander. He further claimed that local youth were threatening to overrun the army base while some of the soldiers surrendered.

But an army statement, which confirmed the fighting and the killing of the former commander, denied the allegations of soldiers surrendering to local youth.

SSPDF Spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai Koang said that the army has “successfully” repelled the attack on its “defensive” position in the remote town near the South Sudan-Ethiopia border.

Meanwhile, Pochalla Executive Director Owiti Olung now says the administrative government headquartered in Pibor instigated the conflict when it first appointed a commissioner without the knowledge and approval of the people at the grassroots level.

Speaking to Eye Radio on Tuesday, Mr. Olung blamed Pibor for appointing the commissioner, whom he said created an army of youth to terrorize dissidents.

“The government of Greater Pibor Administrative Area part of this, it’s the one who created this fighting, but the national government has received a lot of reports but no response,” he stated.

“Last time (June), there was a commissioner who was been appointed without knowledge from the people here, he come with Murle youth and fighting occurred.”

“There was an investigation committee headed by a brigadier general, he went back with a report to the president, but nothing happened.”

But Greater Pibor Administrative Area Minister of Information Mr. Abrahm Kelang has denied the allegations.

Kelang said the administrative government had no connection with the Friday and Sunday fighting in Pochalla, adding that it is working hard to stabilize the security situation.

“The same group came and attacked the SSPDF barrack, this is what I know, but the executive director saying this conflict government of GPA is involved in it is untrue,” he said.

“We cannot involve in it, because that this group identified itself as a rebel.”

Kelang then said the root cause of the conflict was due to the longstanding demand for an administrative area by the Pochalla youth.

He said his government is not against their demand, but that they should address their grievances to President Salva Kiir.

“They are demanding a separate Administrative area, but is not GPAA that divided the administrative area or any state.”

“So, that issue they have raised we said as the government of GPAA is okay, you want to divide yourselves go and report to the president, inform the president why you want to divide yourselves, if the president allows it, we as GPAA we have no problem.”