Authorities in South Sudan’s Warrap State announced Wednesday that relative quiet has returned to Tonj North County after fatal fighting last weekend in Rualbet Payam.
The confrontations started on Saturday when armed Rualbet youth assaulted SSPDF troops who had been instructed to return 125 livestock seized from the Konggor district of Aliek Payam, killing 18 government personnel and seven civilians and injuring others.
Among those killed in the confrontations were the Military Chief of Intelligence Division 11, Lt. Col. Akec Ciman Paac, the SSPDF Division 11 Military Chief for Operations Maj. Santino Kuot Kuotdit, and the former Mayen Jur County Commissioner Kuol Agok.
Riing Deng Adiing, the Warrap State communications minister and official government spokesman, said that the security situation is reasonably quiet in a Radio Tamazuj broadcast received by NCMP.
“Rualbet Payam, Tonj North County, has a generally quiet security environment. I spoke with one of the Payam officials this morning, and he affirmed that no armed kids are involved in furthering the assault “He said.
Minister Deng has warned that if the armed youngsters do not return the livestock and give their weapons to the authorities, the state administration would launch a military operation in the region.
“The intelligentsia of the Rualbet community ask the government to act first by speaking with their armed young, and the government agrees. However, the state administration would intervene by enlisting armed youngsters to surrender their weapons and restore the plundered livestock to their legal owners, or military action will be used “He issued a warning.
He said that there have been no more reports of fatalities and that the injured SSPDF troops have been evacuated to Wau for medical treatment, while the wounded armed youth are being treated at health clinics in Warrap.
Meanwhile, Tonj North County Executive Director Bak Ajuot reported that the region has been stable since Saturday.
“We have yet to learn about the latest developments in the issue. Since then, it has stayed steady. The acting governor has joined us here to see what happens. The interim governor is awaiting instructions from Juba on what to do next “He elaborated.
