Jonglei boat attack kills 9, more missing and wounded

June 25, 2012 (BOR) – At least nine people were killed and several others are missing or wounded in an attack on boats in Akobo county, Jonglei state, on Thursday.

Among the dead are four South Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) soldiers who were killed when armed criminals ambushed boats on the Sobat River. Five of the attackers were also killed.

The commissioner of Akobo County, Goy Jooyul told Sudan Tribune from Jonglei that the attackers were armed youths loyal to the self-proclaimed prophet of the Lou Nuer, Dak Kueth who left the Uror area when the government-backed disarmament programme began in March.

Two boats left Nassir county in Upper Nile state, heading to Akobo, carrying over 80 SPLA, police and auxiliary force and their families, to help in the ongoing disarmament programme, which was inaugurated by president Salva Kiir in March.

Jonglei has long been blighted by inter-ethnic conflict, with the UN in January estimated that is has cause the displacement of 120,000 people.

Residents of Akobo confirmed to Sudan Tribune that one of the boats was captured and taken to Ethiopia by the attackers.

Another boat floated downstream to Makak in Nassir county of Upper Nile state where the corpses on-board were retrieved and buried.

Jooyul said the majority of the attackers were from the Nuer ethnic group but were joined by Ethiopian disciples of Kueth.

He called upon the South Sudan army, citzens and authorities to assist in apprehending the perpetrators.

(ST)