S. Sudan armed men overrun Raja town

June 15, 2016 (JUBA) – Armed men in South Sudan have overrun Raja town, the administrative headquarters of the newly created Lol state, forcing the area governor and his cabinet to flee in disarray amid heavy gunfire.

Lol state Governor Rizik Zachariah Hassan and his deputy Sumeiya Adut have fled the town and have not been able to communicate with each other since heavy gunfire erupted at dawn.

The whereabouts of the deputy governor remains unclear, raising concern for her safety.

The exact identities of the armed gunmen remains unclear and no specific groups have come out to claim any responsibility for attacking the strategic border town.

The details of casualties remains unclear, though military sources and local government officials told Sudan Tribune in series of interviews that Rizik narrowly escaped an attempt on his life, but his driver and body guard were injured as they tried to flee the area.

Governor Rizik is presently in Majok Dengdit village in Aweil West area.

(ST)