At least four SPLA soldiers killed in Rumbek East ambush
September 25, 2015 (RUMBEK) – Clashes have erupted in South Sudan’s Rumbek East county of Lakes state between the South Sudan army (SPLA) and a group of young pastoralists on Thursday.
Marial Amuom Malek, security advisor and Member of Parliament (MP) in Lakes state’s legislative assembly, said that “four SPLA soldiers were killed and one pastoralist youth was among those dead.”
Malek further said that one youth sustained critical gunshot and is admitted at Rumbek Hospital when they attempted to loot moving cattle of business people.
A convoy of nine SPLA trucks was loaded with cows of two businessmen. One businessman intended to take his cows to Jonglei state and another businessman wanted to take his cows to the market of Central Equatoria state. The cows arrived into Lakes state via Western Bahr El Ghazal state.
Advisor Amuom described Rumbek East county young cattle-keepers as “desperate” youth seeking to get wealth by all means. He said the youth successfully grabbed the cows but authorities managed to recover 16 cows. He did not specify how many cows were taken by the youth.
Public in Lakes state continues demanding for removal of Lakes state military caretaker governor Major General Matur Chut Dhuol, accusing him of having failed to quell the insecurity in the state since his appointment in 2012, replacing elected former governor Chol Tong Mayay.
All calls from the state intellectuals, traditional leaders and public at large to remove the caretaker governor have so far been ignored by the president Salva Kiir Mayardit.
On the other hand, the local authorities complain that the public in Lakes state refuse to share insecurity information with government agents, making murder cases difficult to investigate.
(ST)