The government of Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) on Thursday denied allegations that its youth were involved in a deadly ambush on a humanitarian convoy in Duk County of Jonglei State that killed at least 17 people, and called for an independent investigation.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, GPAA Information Minister Jacob Werchum Juok rejected accusations by Jonglei State authorities linking the attack to youth from Pibor, describing the claims as baseless.
“Jonglei authorities blamed the ambush on Pibor, but we reject the accusation. Our youth were not involved in this incident,” Werchum said.
He urged Jonglei State authorities and the Duk County administration to establish the facts before assigning responsibility.
Werchum said investigators should instead focus on criminal groups operating in areas affected by insecurity around Twic rather than communities located far from the scene of the attack.
“There are criminals in the areas experiencing tensions in Twic. Jonglei authorities should not point fingers at places that are far from where the incident occurred,” he said.
Condemning the attack, Werchum called for a joint investigation by the Jonglei State government and Duk County authorities to identify and prosecute those responsible.
“We call on the Jonglei State government to conduct a joint investigation with the Duk County commissioner so the real perpetrators can be identified and brought to justice,” he said.
He also said investigators should take into account recent disputes between communities in Duk and Twic East, through whose territories the road passes.
Werchum urged the public to avoid spreading unverified information that could inflame tensions and undermine peace efforts, reaffirming the GPAA administration’s commitment to regional stability.
The ambush took place on Monday afternoon when a convoy operated by the John Dau Foundation came under attack while returning from a joint training organised by the World Food Programme and Action Against Hunger. The convoy was travelling between Payuel Payam and Pajut in Duk County.
Local authorities and the aid organisation said at least 17 people were killed and nine others wounded.
On Wednesday, a group of Western embassies and the European Union condemned the attack and called for those responsible to be held accountable.
In a joint statement, the embassies of Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States, together with the European Union delegation, expressed condolences to the families of those killed and urged South Sudanese authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.
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