Unity governor orders investigation into tribal killing

November 28, 2013 (BENTIU) – The caretaker governor of Unity state, Joseph Nguen Monytuel, has established a committee to investigate last week’s incident in which seven people were killed and nine others injured in a conflict over land between the Leek and Jikany clans in Rubkotna and Guit counties

The committee comprising of seven members of parliament is tasked with the responsibility of conducting an investigation and reporting its findings to the assembly and the governor within one week.

Monytuel says the committee’s term of reference is to define the boundary of the land that led to the conflict.

The governor said officials suspected to have been involved in the conflict will be prosecuted.

In 2009, fighting over the same piece of land led to the death of five people.

More than 100 members of South Sudan’s military and police have been moved into the area to prevent an escalation of the conflict. By Tuesday evening, the situation had been brought under control.

In a separate development on Thursday a group youths attacked a Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) base in Rubkotna. Eyewitnesses said the group comprised of about 20 youths.

State minister of information and communication Nyaliep John Dak cautioned the government and private media from reporting on the incident until a decision on the matter is taken by the council of ministers.

SPLA division commander James Koang Chuol has declined to comment about the alleged attack on the army base.

(ST)