Calm returns to Pigi County after clashes, says official
By James Chatim
Authorities in Pigi County of Jonglei State on Tuesday said calm returned after clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) in the area.
Speaking to The City Review from Canal, the Headquarters of the county, Pigi County Commissioner Suliman Deng Thon said the security situation is relatively stable compared to Monday when members from SPLA-IO attacked a government military base.
Deng said the attackers were repulsed and returned to the places they came from, such as Khorwai, Wun Alueth Wun Ayen and Atar Ardeeb.
“The situation is normal today. It was only yesterday (Monday) that the situation was unstable. We controlled the situation and there is no problem as the government contained the situation,” he explained.
“The attackers returned to their previous locations, including Khorwai, Wun Alueth Wun Ayen and Atar Ardeeb,” he said.
“The motive of the attackers is regime change. They have the agenda of SPLM/A-IO. The agenda of SPLM/A-IO says they want to change the Dinka regime, which they used to say. So, no regime change (revolutionary) can talk that way. Any system brings people together. It doesn’t differentiate people as I know,” he stated.
The commissioner confirmed that there hasn’t been any displacement as the civil population have remained in their respective residences.
Fighting broke out in Pigi County on Monday morning after the opposition SPLA-IO attacked a government military base.
Commissioner Deng told the media that the clashes occurred around 3 a.m. in Mat Boma of Wunlith Payam, when South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) troops came under attack.
“The SPLA-IO forces attacked the SSPDF base in Mat Boma. The attack was heavy and well organized, but our forces repelled them and they retreated toward Ayok village in Khorwai Payam,” Deng told Radio Tamazuj.
