L-R: Pibor County Commissioner Joshua Konyi Irer and Bor County Commissioner Agot Alier Leek. [Gurtong | File]
By Jacob Achiek Jok
BOR, 11 October 2012 [Gurtong] – It has been reported that a fight broke out between rebel group and Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) on 6 October in Gumuruk town.
At least 47 rebels affiliated to David Yau Yau forces were killed by the SPLA and many others injured in the recent attacks in Pibor villages of Likuangole, Monybol and Gumuruk.
Villages such as Koth Char, Manybol and Likuangole are under rebel control according to sources in Pibor town.
"We will commit not only to clear the rebels out of the areas but also to teach them a lesson they never forget,” Konyi said.
“The SPLA will protect the civilians and properties from the enemies of peace who were sent to destabilized South Sudanese citizens,” he said.
Last month the UN Mission in South Sudan and the SPLA reported that an unidentified helicopter had landed in Pibor County. South Sudan authorities said this was proof that the neighbouring Sudan was arming the rebel group in an attempt to destabilize the nation that seceded last year.
The fighting in Pibor has forced international non-governmental organizations to vacate out of the affected areas.
Attempts to get comments from the state governor were unsuccessful due to bad network connectivity.
Despite the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Aggreement (CPA) in 2005 and the South Sudan gaining independence last year, Jonglei State has continued to suffer from insecurity due to rebellions and cattle raiding.
Violence between rival cattle herding groups erupted in December last year where armed youth primarily from the Luo Nuer ethnic group were mobilized militarily to launched a series of systematic attacks on the Murle tribe of Pibor County.
More than 1,000 people were killed in violence between the groups after a series of reprisal attacks from Murle armed groups.