The Chief Administrator of the Greater Pibor Area, David Yau Yau, has strongly refuted allegations by the government of Jonglei State that elements from Pibor were involved in a cattle raid on Bor County last week.
The attack on Jalle payam on Friday resulted in the killing of about 30 persons and theft of a number of cattle.
Yau Yau said the attackers came from an opposition-controlled area, and called for an investigation before apportioning blame.
“I appeal to the people and the government of Jonglei state to trace the attackers. There has to be a map, there has to be a route, where [the] people are heading. So let them follow them”.
The commissioner of Bor County, Isaac Mamer, blamed the attack on elements from Greater Pibor, but said the incident will not spoil relations with their neighbours.
“There will be no revenge attacks. The current political relationship with people of Greater Pibor will not be stopped; I really appreciate Gen. Yau Yau for his full commitment to bring peace between the two communities. This crisis still continues because we have some elements within the Murle community who are against the peace deal signed between the COBRA faction and the government of South Sudan”.
He blamed the continued attacks on power hungry elements,
“We also have other groups who are looking for leadership, so the continuation of atrocities we cannot blame Yau Yau but we are blaming some individuals and individual politicians”.
The commissioner says up to 27 people; 17 civilians and 10 members of the organised forces were killed, and 11 people wounded in the attack. More than 240 head of cattle were also stolen in the raid.
Additional organised forces have been deployed to ensure security.