Two killed during cattle raid in Jonglei state

By Awan Achiek

Two people have been confirmed killed and unspecified number of cows stolen in Tuesday’s fresh attack in Duk County of Jonglei State.

Philip Thon Leek Deng, MP representing Duk County in the National Legislative Assembly told The Dawn that suspected armed attackers from Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPPA) attacked a cattle camp belonging to Lou Nuer in Duk County.

“I am hereby informing you that today Tuesday 23rd January 2024, in Duk County at a place called Palooc, about  7 km north of Duk Padiet, and at 9:00 am the Murle militias attacked  Lou Nuer cattle of Chieng Dol who were on their way to Hol Dinka of Duk County,” Thon  said in an interview on Wednesday.

 “In this attack, they have killed 2 people and stolen an unspecified number of livestock. The Lou Nuer and Hol-Dinka youth are still pursuing the invaders from GPAA,” he added.

Abraham Kelang, the GPPA minister of information said that they have not received any official communication about the latest incident in Duk County. 

Tuesday’s incident follows a similar incident a fortnight ago that left 28 people killed and 30 wounded in Duk County.

The authorities blamed armed Murle youth from GPAA for the attack on a cattle camp in Poktap town.

Communities in Jonglei and GPAA have in the past years engaged in tit-for-tat revenge attacks and cattle raiding. The community leaders from both areas have held peace dialogues to resolve the violence but  it continues unabated.