Violence escalates across Unity-Ruweng border killing senior local official

BENTIU – Fresh violence erupted on Sunday across the Unity State-Ruweng Administrative Area (RAA) border, displacing refugees and raising concerns about escalating border disputes. Armed youth from Rubkona County launched attacks in Aliny County of the Ruweng Administrative Area (RAA), according to local officials.

Santo Lual Mayuol, acting information minister for Ruweng, told Sudans Post that the attacks targeted Tom South oilfields, Khat El-Nar, Hopuro village, and Panakuach, resulting in the deaths of 14 people, including the Aliny County Executive Director. The county executive director is traditionally considered the deputy country commissioner in South Sudan.

Tom South, an oilfield base operated by the Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC), a consortium of oil companies, was also targeted. The attacks led to the evacuation of oil workers in the area.

“Fourteen people were killed in the attacks, including the Aliny County executive director,” Mayuol said. “The youth burned the company compound and set the area on fire, forcing the evacuation of staff.”

Lual added that the county official was burned alive inside his hut.

The violence originated from a cattle raid last week by armed youth from Ruweng on a cattle camp belonging to Rubkona County youth, Mayuol said. He blamed the incident for escalating tensions into border disputes.

“Heavy fighting is ongoing as we speak,” Lual reported. “Unity State’s Rubkona cattle herding youth attacked Tor Parieng, Tomsouth oilfield, Khat El-Nar, and Hopuro village under Ruweng Administrative Area.”

“The problem began when our armed youth raided their cattle camp,” Mayuol explained. “We intervened to resolve the situation, but the Rubkona youth escalated it and attacked us.”

Mayuol said the clashes displaced Sudanese refugees seeking refuge in South Sudan from the ongoing conflict in their home country. The violence took place in Panakuach, one of the transit points for the refugees.

“Today’s fighting is worse than yesterday’s,” Mayuol said. “Several people were wounded, and many more were killed as the fighting continues to advance towards Parieng town. As the Ruweng Administrative Area community, we yearn for peace.”

Mayuol called on the 4th infantry division of the South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) in Bentiu to intervene and control the situation.

Major-General William Manyang Mayak, commander of the 4th infantry division, confirmed sending a force to the northern part of the area to contain the situation.

“We have already dispatched SSPDF troops to control the situation and protect civilians caught in the crossfire between the two communities,” Mayak told Sudans Post at Bentiu airport while travelling to Juba.

The escalating violence follows an ambush reported on Saturday by Rubkona County commissioner James Kasara Clement Juol. Kasara’s convoy, returning from Parieng, was allegedly attacked by armed men in police and SSPDF uniforms.

Kasara said he had visited the area to retrieve cattle raided from Rubkona County last week. He claimed to have agreed to meet with the Aliny County commissioner but was sent the deputy commissioner (who was killed) instead.

The clashes resulted in one death and three injuries, including a woman. Last week’s fighting in Payangai resulted in the wounding of five civilians – a young girl, three women, and a man – who are being treated at Bentiu state hospital.