Mayom Commissioner Accuses SSPDF of Instigating Abiemnom Violence
SSPDF Allegedly Triggers Conflict in Unity State
BENTIU – The commissioner of Mayom County in South Sudan’s Unity State has accused the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) of sparking violence in neighboring Abiemnom County through an ambush on cattle herders.
Conflicting Accounts of Violence
Commissioner James Lily Kuol alleged in a statement to Sudans Post that a brigade commander from the SSPDF’s 3rd Infantry Division ordered the ambush, prompting armed youth from Mayom to retaliate and briefly seize control of Abiemnom.
Abiemnom County Commissioner Mario Deng Ayot reported fleeing to a nearby forest during the attack, claiming the violence began when Mayom youth attacked cattle grazing areas on Monday, killing four and wounding six before returning Tuesday to take the town.
Commissioner Kuol’s Allegations
Kuol specifically blamed Brigadier General Garang Lual’s 3rd Infantry Division Brigade in Biemkat, alleging SSPDF forces and Abiemnom youth ambushed Mayom cattle herders and stole over 300 cattle.
“Cattle keepers from Mayom County were following their cattle when they were ambushed by Brig. Gen. Garang Lual…and Abiemnom County youth. They raided more than 300 cattle, which led to the deaths of four people from Abiemnom, including two soldiers from General Lual’s forces,” Kuol stated.
Detention of Civilians
The Mayom commissioner further accused SSPDF and Abiemnom authorities of detaining 25 children, including 18 girls who were selling milk. He claimed the Mayom youth’s attack aimed to recover stolen cattle and free the detainees.
De-escalation Efforts
Kuol reported deploying Brigade 11 of the 4th Infantry Division to stabilize the situation, claiming normalcy had returned – though Sudans Post could not independently verify this claim with Abiemnom residents.
The commissioner added he was in communication with Ayot and that some cattle and children had been recovered, though he didn’t confirm complete control of Abiemnom town.
Source: Sudans Post