(L-R) Governor Kuol Manyang Jok and Hon. Alison Manana Magia speaking during the press conference [©Gurtong]
Pow James Raeth and Jacob Achiek Jok
BOR, 18th January 2012 [Gurtong] - 51 people have been killed, 12 others wounded in the late hours of Monday (16th/1/2012) in Duk Padiat County of Jonglei State by suspected Murle attackers, that’s according to the County Commissioner Mr. Eliza Mochnoam.
Commissioner Mochnoam spoke to Gurtong on phone from Duk County headquarter after returning from a refugee camp.
While speaking during a joint press conference in Bor County, the capital of Jonglei State, Governor Kuol Manyang Jok said that the attackers briefly occupied the town before the local youths from Duk forced them out on Monday night.
He said the attack happened in a time when the County members were attending a welcome party for the appointment of Eliza Mochnoam, the County’s newly appointed Commissioner.
Speaking to the Press, Governor Koul Manyang said, “the attackers burned down the town after looting it, raided unconfirmed number of cattle.” The Governor expected the number of people wounded to increase as the search for missing persons continues.
Governor Kuol said that road accessibility was a serious challenge affecting the security forces operations in the conflict hit areas. He urged the government of South Sudan to speed up in repairing feeder roads for the smooth mobilisation of security forces in the State.
He said that the United Nations Mission In South Sudan (UNMISS) has provided helicopters to air lift the wounded people for treatment in Juba.
The Murle attackers are believed to be retaliating against the Dinka of Duk County for their involvement in Pibor County attacks in collaboration with the Lou Nuer three weeks ago.
The attackers are believed to be retaliating after their County headquarter was invaded for 17 days by both the Greater Bor Dinka (including Duk) Jekauny Nuer of Nassir in Upper Nile and the Lou Nuer.
The National Minister for Interior Affairs Hon. Alison Manana Magia arrived in Bor yesterday morning and held a closed door meeting with State government officials before attending the press conference.
Mr. Manana said he is in the State to strategise on how to carryout disarmament of Jonglei’s armed communities, deployment of the 3000 extra armed police he sent to the State and the adjustment of police salaries in which all the police forces from all the ten States shall have similar salaries beginning this month.
He also mentioned that a thorough disarmament exercise will soon be launched across the 11 Counties of Jonglei State. He did not mention when the disarmament will commence.
In a sperated development the Commissioner of Pibor County accused Dinka Bor youths of attacking and killing five people, wounding six more and raiding a number of cattle in Agalwa Village of Pibor County on Sunday morning which could have instigated the retaliatory attack.