Lawmaker killed in ambush in Upper Nile region

A lawmaker and two security guards were shot dead on Tuesday as they were leaving Mandeang area within the opposition-controlled 'Sobat State', located in Upper Nile region.

The legislator was identified as Deng Bol Jak.

“A group of eight MPs from Latjor State went for a meeting with members of the SPLA-IO in Mandeang area for peace dissemination.

 After leaving Mandeang on their way back to Nasir town, their boat fell in an ambush in Birjok village,” Gatkuoth Bim Nyoak, Information Minister in Latjor State told Radio Tamazuj this morning.

The government official further said Jak was representing workers’ union at the national legislative assembly in the capital Juba.

The state minister pointed out that an SPLA-O officer identified as Deng Bol Chopthiang was also killed in the attack. Bim added that the lawmaker’s bodyguard was also shot dead in the ambush.

“The government security guard was also found killed. He was identified as Duop Wiyual Kang,” he said.

Bim accused a group of youth from Cie-wang community of involvement in the deadly attack.

Minister Bim noted that two persons were injured in the incident.” The driver of the boat and a cameraman sustained injuries in the ambush,” he explained.

Bim said the motive behind the attack remains unknown.” No investigation has taken place, so we don’t know the motive behind the attack. Those government officials came from Juba to disseminate peace in the counties.  They were given permission by the SPLM/A-IO governor to hold meetings in Mandeang area,” he said.

Duol Thian, the coordinator of Sobat State in Australia, confirmed the incident. “What happened is that national and state MPs from Lajor state came to Mandeang area.  The government officials came for trust building but they were attacked on their way back to Nasir town by two individuals from the Chie-wang community,” he said.

“Opposition authorities have nothing to do with the incident. The attack was launched by two people from the Chie-wang community. The SPLA-IO officer killed together with the national MP was a nephew of the opposition-appointed governor of Sobat,” he added.

Thian noted that the perpetrators managed to escape after the incident. The opposition official said they would work together with the government to ensure the perpetrators are brought to book.

On his part, the opposition-appointed governor of Sobat state, James Banak Riang said the attack was carried out by criminals. The top opposition official vowed to apprehend the perpetrators.

In September 2018, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and several opposition leaders, including main opposition leader Riek Machar signed a peace deal to end the civil war.