Unrest Unleashes in Pochalla County: A Power Struggle Turns Violent

In a remote corner of South Sudan, Pochalla County once again finds itself at the heart of turmoil as violence erupted between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and local youth. Witnesses were shaken awake by the thunderous roar of artillery shelling, marking the ominous start to a grim Monday morning.

The catalyst for this eruption of violence was the tragic demise of Brigadier General Joseph Okony on Sunday, September 17. A man who had once commanded the SSPDF found himself on the wrong end of a power struggle. His successor, Commander Achuil, allegedly ordered his execution after Okony staunchly refused to be redeployed to unfamiliar terrain.

Pochalla County Executive Director, Owiti Olung, narrated the sequence of events that escalated the conflict. Initially, it was confined to the town, but the intensity spiralled, eventually reaching the very heart of the SSPDF headquarters in Pochalla.

The backdrop to this tragedy was a decision made by Joseph Okony. Instead of accepting his reassignment, he chose to return to the comfort of his home. His decision proved fatal, as Commander Achuil swiftly took action.

Olung, the local authority, lamented the situation, recounting how the local government had made pleas for calm in the aftermath of Okony’s assassination. Tragically, those calls went unanswered. At dawn on that fateful Monday, Commander Achuil resumed hostilities, taking a heavy toll on civilian homes.

The situation took an unexpected twist when some of Commander Achuil’s own soldiers surrendered themselves to the local youth, seemingly tired of the senseless violence.

Meanwhile, the SSPDF headquarters in Juba remained conspicuously silent, failing to provide any official statement or commentary on the unfolding crisis.

This is not the first time that Pochalla County, nestled close to the Ethiopian border, has witnessed such mayhem. Recent months have seen a disturbing trend of violence, including the assassination of the County Commissioner and a senior national security officer, both perpetrated by unidentified gunmen back in June 2023.

In the midst of this ongoing turmoil, one can’t help but wonder about the broader implications of power struggles and their devastating consequences. The tragic tale of Pochalla County serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for stability, dialogue, and resolution in a region long plagued by unrest.