An armed group suspected to be part of a local militia known as the Red Belt robbed a money transfer agency in Duk County, Jonglei State, stealing money and disarming a police guard, a local official said Friday.
The attack occurred Thursday night at the Randit Money Transfer Agency in Poktap, the headquarters of Duk County.
John Chatim, the commissioner of Duk County, confirmed the incident to Radio Tamazuj on Friday, detailing the losses incurred during the raid.
“Last night (Thursday), the Randit Money Transfer Agency in Poktap was attacked and robbed by a criminal group we suspect belongs to the Red Belt,” Commissioner Chatim stated.
“The robbers made off with a substantial amount of cash: over 45,000,000 South Sudanese Pounds and nearly 1,800 US dollars,” he added.
The suspected criminals also disarmed the police officer guarding the premises. “They took an AK-47 rifle from the police officer who was on duty guarding the agency,” the Commissioner added.
Commissioner Chatim noted that the investigation is active but, as of now, no suspects have been apprehended.
“We are working tirelessly with the available forces to track down the perpetrators, but I must confirm that no arrests have been made so far,” he said.
The Red Belt was recently designated by Jonglei authorities as a criminal organization, linked to a series of attacks since early this year, including recent clashes with the National Security Service in Bor and an ambush on a national minister.
In a separate video that circulated on social media Friday, the group’s leader, Leek Mamer Leek, denied that the Red Belt is involved in rebellion. He acknowledged his group has a uniform but said it was to distinguish them from rivals from the Murle community, denying they have military ranks.
He characterized recent clashes with the National Security Service in Bor as a “misunderstanding.”
Jonglei State has long been a hotspot for intercommunal violence, often centered around cattle raiding and cycles of revenge killings. The rise of armed groups like the Red Belt complicates the security landscape in the state.
As part of efforts to boost security, officers from the National Security Service have recently been deployed to the state capital, Bor.