The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces says six people have been killed and 17 others wounded in intercommunal clashes in Wiechjol, Akobo County, Jonglei State.
Speaking at a media briefing at the army’s General Headquarters on Thursday, army spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai Koang said the fighting broke out on October 13 as a revenge killing between two clans before spreading to more than seven clans.
Koang said the violence escalated after a third person was killed alongside the intended target, drawing more people into the fighting.
“There were communal clashes at a place called Wiechjol in Akobo County of Jonglei State. It had started as a revenge killing between two clans,” he said.
“There were communal clashes at a place called Wiechjol in Akobo County of Jonglei State….and as a result, a third party was shot along with the wanted person. And in the process, other people who were in the nearby market were shot and wounded in crossfire,” he said.
He said people whose relatives were killed or wounded in the crossfire later joined the fighting, causing the clashes to spread to more than seven clans, broadly divided into the Jagwe and Cieng Nyel sub-tribes.
“At the end of that fighting, six people were reported dead and 17 were wounded,” Koang said.
The army spokesperson also said the national army would continue to protect the country’s territorial integrity and support security arrangements ahead of the general elections.
He said the army would work with other organised forces, including the police, to protect politicians during election campaigns and secure ballot materials when requested by the relevant electoral authorities.
“As mandated, the national army will continue to protect the territorial integrity of our beloved country,” he said.
Koang added that active-duty soldiers who wish to enter politics must first resign from military service.
“SSPDF personnel in active service that would like to join politics would only do so after resigning from military service,” he said.
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