Jonglei’s Twic East hit by raids and abductions, many displaced
February 26, 14 (BOR) – Cattle raids, child abduction and fear of rebel attacks have hit Twic East county in Jonglei, forcing the civilians to flee the areas to Lakes state according to the commissioner, Dau Akoi.
On Thursday 20 February hundreds of cattle were raided from Twic East county, and three children were abducted around Panyagoor, the county headquarters.
According to the Twic East commissioner who addressed the media in Bor on Wednesday evening, two boys among the abducted ones returned home after they escaped from the abductors’ hands, revealing the identities of the criminals as members of Murle community.
“We are sure that Murle looted our cattle plus one boy child remained whom they abducted. The two boys proved to us [that] they [raiders/abductors] were from Murle”, the commissioner said.
Sudan Tribune was not able to meet the two boys who escaped from the abductors or reach the commissioner of Pibor county to verify the claims.
“My county is facing threats of attacks from two sides, Lou Nuer as well as Murle. A lot of people are now fleeing the area together with the people who came from Duk county”, he said.
The United Nations estimate that almost 130,000 people have been displaced within Jonglei and over 42,000 forced to flee to neighbouring Ethiopia.
On various occasions the rebels led by Riek Machar are believed to have promised that they would not attack Twic East County. Some in Jonglei have alleged that this was because some chiefs had helped the rebels by providing them with cows in January.
However, Akoi rejected the claims that his county has any links with Machar’s rebels and said the allegations had been cooked up to create a bad image of his county.
Dr. Majak Agoot, the former deputy minister of defense, who is from Maar in Twic County, is a supporter of Machar and one of the 11 senior figures from South Sudan’s ruling party arrested in connection with the fighting the capital, Juba, on December 15, which the government claim was a coup attempt.
Seven of those arrested have been released and are now participating in peace talks in Ethiopia, but Agoot is among the four officials still being held without charge in Juba.
(ST)