The local authorities in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) have said four local youth and seven others suspected to be from Eastern Equatoria State’s Kapoeta East County were killed in clashes in the area’s Verthet County on Wednesday.
GPAA Information Minister Jacob Werchum Jouk told Radio Tamazuj that the clashes started after the local youths who were herding cattle spotted and ambushed the youth from Eastern Equatoria, whom they suspected wanted to raid cattle.
“Those clashes broke out on Wednesday at 10 a.m. while cattle were being grazed,” he explained. “A group of youth from the Kapoeta area in Eastern Equatoria State was heading to raid in Verthet; however, they were spotted and waylaid before they attacked. Four local youth were killed, and 7 bodies of the attackers were found.”
However, Eastern Equatoria State Information Minister Elia John Ahaji said they were not aware of the attack and offered a different version of the story.
“We are not aware of this incident. The truth is that as we speak, Murle youth are roaming our bushes, abducting children, raiding cattle, and ambushing vehicles transporting goods from Juba,” he countered. “A few days ago, their spies were spotted in Kapoeta, pursued, and it resulted in clashes. However, we do not have casualty details.”