Fighting earlier this week between SPLA and opposition forces resulted in the killing of at least nine people in two counties of Warrap State, along its eastern border with Unity State.

A foray by fighters from the opposition-held parts of Unity State was countered by local cattle guards and organized forces on Monday, according to local and national officials. 

Col. Philip Aguer, speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, suggested the enemy movements through Warrap may have been a flanking maneuver into Mayom County, west of the Unity State capital Bentiu and the main supply route to government-held parts of the state.

“We realized there was movement of the Riek Machar forces toward Warrap,” Col. Aguer said at a press conference on Tuesday, adding that SPLA moved quickly starting Monday to intercept the enemy. “We were not sure whether it was an attack on Warrap or on Mayom area.”

Commissioner of Tonj East Madhol Chol noted also, however, that the attackers raided cattle, killing two people in his county and six more in neighboring Tonj North County.

“From our side, one person was injured and two killed,” said the commissioner in an interview with Eye Radio in Juba, explaining also that ‘youth’ defending the county captured 14 rifles from the opposition fighters.

“Another attack happened in Tonj North in a place called Malual in Apukpadoch. The attack happened at 7 p.m. when the cattle were coming back from grazing. But our people managed to rescue all the cattle back yesterday. About seven people were shot dead and six others were injured in Tonj North County,” he said.

The army spokesman on Tuesday described the attacking force as a convoy of more than 21 vehicles, a contention that could not be independently verified. It remains unclear whether all the mentioned incidents involved the same main opposition group or separate groups.

File photo