Five dead, seven injured in attack on SPLA base
November 29, 2013 (BENTIU) – Five people were killed and seven injured on Thursday morning after a group of armed youths attacked a Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) base in Chaalual village, in Unity state’s Rubkotna county.
James Koang Chuol, the SPLA’s fourth division commander in Rubkotna, confirmed the deadly incident.
Chuol accused Rubkotna county commissioner Thomas Maluit Hoth and local officials of being complicit in the attack, in which a group of about 20 armed Leek youth stormed the army base, according to eyewitness accounts.
The area has been the scene of inter-clan clashes in recent weeks.
Rubkotna county Keah Mayual resident said he saw civilians attacking the army base, describing the fighting as some of the fiercest he has seen.
The army reportedly opened fire on the perpetrators and there are fears civilians may have been caught in the cross fire.
There were also unconfirmed reports that an unknown number of people had been held captive.
Rubkotna markets were also shut down following Thursday’s clashes, in which up to 11 SPLA soldiers may have been killed.
Unity state’s minister of information and communication, Nyaliep John Dak, told reporters on Friday that authorities are investigating the attack.
“We are investigating now. Those responsible will be taken to court because you cannot tell somebody [to] just take this gun and go and fight with the government”, Dak said.
On Wednesday evening Unity state caretaker governor Joseph Nguen Monytuel formed an 11-member committee, headed by deputy governor Mabek Lang De Madingm to investigate the incident.
In a statement read over state radio, Monytuel said the committee is tasked with defining side boundaries between the two ethnic groups.
But Dak says the government is taking steps to avoid any future incidents from occurring.
“We will make sure this problem does not happen again. Our security is awake so that such a thing does not happen again”, said Dak.
On Thursday, Monytuel announced that Hoth and state security advisor James Liyliy Kuol were being relieved from their positions.
No reason was provided for the sacking, although it is believed to be related to their suspected role in the attack.
Monytuel has appointed Col Stephen Salam Maluit as the new Rubkotna county commissioner, while Col John Maluk Matai will take on the role of state security advisor.
Following his removal, Kuol was appointed the director general for the Western Upper Nile Development Cooperation at ministerial level.
When contacted by Sudan Tribune on Friday, Hoth said the governor had a constitutional mandate to remove him from office and appoint a replacement.
(ST)