Jonglei government condemns Murle attack on Bor county

October 23, 2015 (BOR) – The council of ministers in South Sudan’s Jonglei state has condemned the recent killings in Jalle payam, accusing the Murle ethnic tribe of allegedly carrying out an attack in which nearly 30 people, including seven soldiers were killed.

“We condemned this attack in the strongest term possible. We know that the attackers came from Pibor and the government will make sure the criminals at the other side in Pibor, are apprehended, through our collective responsibilities”, he told reporters Friday.

Among those killed was commanding army officer in Jalle, Tingkuei Alier, who is well known in the area due to his wrestling records in the past before joining the military.

The acting Jalle payam administrator, Mayen Yong was also killed in the attack. Yong, a graduate of Cavendish University in Uganda had just completed a course in education.

Not more than 250 heads of cattle, authorities confirmed, were stolen by the attackers. A good number of animals were reportedky killed in cross fire during Thursday’s attack.

South Sudan army officials, the commissioner of Bor county, Mamer Ruuk and the area lawmaker visited Jalle, more than 40 miles away from Bor town on Friday.

In his statement on the state-owned SSTV Friday, the army spokesman, Philip Aguer, said the attackers believed to be Murle from Gumuruk county dressed in green uniform.

“Yesterday afternoon, the village of Jalle, and particularly the cattle camp of Wareh, came under heavy attack by armed group in a green uniform, the small SPLA unit nearby together with the youth in the cattle camp tried their best to protect and defend the villagers and the cattle. As a result, 26 youth and soldiers were killed, in the process of protecting the villagers and their properties and nine were wounded”, he said Friday.

Three of the attackers killed were reportedly identified as being from Murle ethnic tribe.

“All the indicators show that these attackers came from Pibor, and particularly from Gumuruk county. The civil authority of Jonglei state is trying to communication to the Pibor administration in an attempt to apprehend this attackers by all means”, said Aguer.

Sudan Tribune was unable to reach Pibor administration for a comment on the attack.

(ST)