Calm has returned to Tonj North County of Warrap State after deadly clashes last week left about 18 soldiers killed by armed youth.
Some of the dead included, senior officers of the South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) who had recovered looted herds of cattle from armed youth from Rual-Bet Payam of Tonj North County.
Gen. Majak Akec Malok, Inspector of General of South Sudan’s Police services confirmed that the security situation is now clam after days of tension.
He told journalists in Juba after being part of the high-level security committee headed by the SSPDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Santino Deng Wol Chok and others that visited the epicenter of the violence.
“We are obliged to protect the lives and property of citizens when criminals try to undermine security, the authorities must intervene the army is obliged to protect the constitution and borders,” Akec said.
Akec called for close cooperation between all regular security forces.
Meanwhile, clashes on June 3rd between local youth in Pochalla County of Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) with SSPDF soldiers based in Raat left 5 people killed and four others injured.
Tonj North and GPAA are prone to violent cattle raids among armed youth which have often left hundreds of civilians killed.
This cycle of sub-national violence has often left the security situation fragile in South Sudan, despite rival political elites signing the 2018 revitalized peace deal to end years of the political conflict that broke out since December 2013.
