10 dead as fresh violence erupts in Juba between Murle, Anyuak

JUBA – At least 10 were killed in deadly communal violence between Murle and Anyuak communities of Greater Pibor Administrative on Sunday night in Juba.

Jay Adingora, former Minister of Information in the Greater Pibor Administrative area said the deadly conflict was politically motivated.

“This is purely politically motivated, it is politicians who are behind all these attacks, and the killing of innocent civilians in IDP camp is actually something that we condemn,” Adingora told Sudans Post reporter in Juba on Monday.

Adingora said described the situation as “unfortunate” and he called on the government to investigate the matter.

Pastor Jobi Othalla, Anyuak Community leader disagreed the Adingora, former Minister of Information statement saying the conflict was “politically motivated”.

Jobi said it is purely a “communal violence.”

“People say, the fighting has elements of politics, but the fighting is totally not politically motivated, it is a communal violence, when we say, it is political, it is when people are struggling for power and positions but Anyuak doesn’t demand any position starting from GPAA to National level,” Jobi said.

Gen. Daniel Justin Buolo, the spokesman for South Sudan police said 4 suspects linked to deadly communal violence have been arrested this morning in Juba.

“The police intervened at night when the fighting started, our forces went there and we took one person who was critically injured to the hospital but he then died on the way before reaching the hospital,” Justin said.

Justin added, “Another 8 injured are not at Juba Teaching Hospital and we managed to arrest four suspects.”

“The fighting was actually between two guys, it devolved to involve two communities. The initial investigation shows a misunderstanding between two people  and we are still investigating, but  the situation is right now very calm.”