The body of the Kapoeta East Commissioner, Stephen Lowosio Lomongin, who was killed in an ambush in the disputed Kessengor area on Thursday morning, alongside his bodyguard, has been retrieved, although tensions remain high in the territory claimed by both the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) and Eastern Equatoria State.
The Eastern Equatoria State Government said the late commissioner was on an official visit to the disputed area when he was killed.
GPAA Information Minister Jacob Werchum Jouk told Radio Tamazuj on Friday morning that further escalation was imminent.
“The body of the deceased commissioner was retrieved by a team that came from either Eastern Equatoria or Juba. They just collected the body without any confrontation,” he said. “According to further details during the search, the commissioner’s body and that of one of his bodyguards were found, so only two bodies were found.”
“They came in seven vehicles during the incident, and they all retreated except for two people seen running into the bushes with gunshot wounds,” Minister Werchum added.
He said there was a buildup of tensions over the years.
“There is no network coverage in the area. According to the area’s payam administrator, whom I reached using a satellite phone, there is a buildup of armed youth and security forces,” he stated. “Residents there are living in fear and in panic of an imminent attack from Eastern Equatoria State.”
Eastern Equatoria State Information Minister Elia John Ahaji was not immediately available for comment.
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