The Chief Administrator of Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) Peter Guzulu Maze has denied reports by the SSPDF spokesperson that a number armed areas youth were marching toward Jonglei state with an aim of attacking.
On Thursday the South Sudan Peoples Defense Forces (SSPDF) warned armed youth from Greater Pibor Administrative Area from marching toward Jonglei state in an attempt to attack.
SSPDF Spokesperson Maj Gen Lul Ruai Koang revealed in a statement that that the Army Surveillance detected a group of armed youth from Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) Marching toward Jonglei.
“In the last three days, SSPDF aerial Surveillance Unit had observed and detected large columns of heavily armed youth from Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) moving toward Jonglei state” Lul said
The SSPDF in a statement gave the youth 24 hours to cease the March toward Jonglei or else faces the SSPDF who are constitutional task to protect the people and their prosperity.
However, in an interview with this outlet, Peter Guzulu Maze GPAA Chief Administrator denied the armed youth mobilization citing that the area is severely devastated by cholera out break.
“first of all, we have cholera in the area and no body can mobilize at this time, second, we have dry season, the area now is too dry, we do not have any mobilization” Guzulu said.
“We do not have any mobilization by armed youth in the area so Maj Lul Ruai should verify his reports very clear” he added
The Chief Administrator revealed that the roads between Jonglei state and the GPAA which was closed some time back is now open and there is movement of people and goods between the two states.
“We have the Road now between Pibor and Jonglei, vehicles are moving and as leadership we are committed to peace” he said
Guzulu reiterated as part of the efforts to building peace between Greater Pibor and the bordering communities, the leadership continue to engage youth to cease attacks and mobilization.
“There were some armed youths who wanted to go to Kapoeta we manage to bring them back this is part of the peace campaign that we are doing” he revealed.
“Now there is peace and reconciliation between Toposa and Murle, Anyuan and Murle and so we do not have any insecurity for now and we hope things will change and we are going well” he added.
He expressed the leadership in Greater Pibor Administrative Area remain committed to the recent peace signed in Juba with Jonglei state.
Early this year, the Political leaders in South Sudan’s Jonglei State and Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) last signed an agreement aimed at ending the cycle of intercommunal violence in the region.