Authorities of Jonglei State’s Bor County have arrested 16 local leaders over alleged links to renewed violence among their rival communities on the outskirts of the state capital, Bor.
The violence on Tuesday evening involved members of Abang and Malual communities who have been engaged in intermittent fighting in recent weeks following the creation of an administrative unit by the previous government. The clashes resulted in 9 casualties from both sides.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Thursday evening, Daniel Deng Panchol, caretaker commissioner of Bor County, said fighting has since stopped with the deployment of security forces. However, local youth could still be seen moving with arms, sparking fears of a possible escalation.
He explained that measures taken to restore order also include the apprehension of leaders of the rival communities and imposition of a dawn-to-dusk curfew.
“Eight chiefs, youth and women leaders were arrested from both sides on Wednesday, and they are now in custody at Bor Central Prison,” he explained. “They were arrested because fighting has been taking place on their watch without intervening, indicating their support.”
“Although we deployed security forces, there is movement of armed youth from both sides. We are monitoring these movements, and we banned any grouping, and imposed a curfew,” Commissioner Deng added.
Meanwhile, Kenya Mach, information secretary for the Jonglei State Women’s Association, lauded the government for deploying security forces and urged a peaceful resolution of the matter.
“There is renewed violence in Malual-Chaat around Juba-Bor Highway and security forces have been deployed there to address the crisis,” she said. “We urge the government to build on this intervention so that we see a permanent settlement of the dispute.”
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