In exclusive interviews, two information ministers from both sides gave conflicting accounts of a series of attacks and counter-attacks in the region

By Chuol Chanyong

Authorities in Jonglie State and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area have exchanged accusations over the recent violence in Gumuruk county of Pibor. 

In an interview with The City Review on Tuesday, two information ministers from both sides gave conflicting accounts of a series of attacks and counter-attacks.

 Neymar Lony, Jonglei State Minister of Information, strongly denied any involvement of his area youth in any violence in Pibor.

He claimed that the perpetrators are criminals and cannot be affiliated with Jonglei State. 

“Our youth are in their provinces, and we are talking to them as a government, and they have not been mobilized to go and carry out any attacks,” the state minister said.

Lony said criminals from the Pibor administration area have carried out numerous attacks on Jonglei communities, including cattle raids, killings and kidnappings.

He said  they raided more than 100 herds of cattle in both Ayode and Oror counties, but they were recovered by the youth.

“Also, there is another incident that happened in Nerul area, where they also kidnapped children.    Some of them have been recovered, and some have not yet been recovered.”

On the other hand, Jacob Werchum Jouk,  the Minister of Information of Pibor State denied these allegations, stressing that it was the Jonglei youth who launched attacks on three villages in Gumoruk of Pibor Administrative Area, on Friday evening.

 “Young men came from Duk and Ayode counties of Jonglei State and attacked three villages in Gomorok.”  “We have received a report that four people were killed in this operation. There are no people that were wounded.”

The two officials called for an end to the violence and urged the need for dialogue and cooperation between the two states.

While speaking to a leading media on Monday, Jouk said the the attacking youth decided to withdraw on Sunday afternoon after overrunning several villages and looting cattle in the village.

“During the incident, four youths from Murle were killed by attackers, several people were displaced, and the attackers managed to go away with 3,027 cattle. Regarding injuries, we have yet to get the statistics. According to the team we sent to the incident scene, at least 31 bodies of the attackers were found,” the minister was quoted as saying.

Jouk said the fighting, which started on Friday evening, stopped on Sunday afternoon after the local youth were overwhelmed.