Dec 10, 2020(Nyamilepedia) — Clashes erupted in Cueibet after the director of prisons in Cueibet County in Lakes State was killed in a revenge attack.
The director of prisons, 42-year-old Makol Mathiang, was shot dead on Tuesday as he was returning home after visiting inmates in Mayath prison.
According to the former acting police spokesperson of the defunct Gok state, Colonel Machar Mouriel, the attackers killed him to avenge their relative who is believed to have been killed by the prisons director’s relations.
“As per the attackers’ testimony, one of their relatives was killed some years back by his relatives,” he said.
Following the death of the prisons director, a fight erupted between Waat and Joth which was joined by other sections of the Gok community.
Col. Machar said that the police were also divided and fought along the tribal lines.
“Our organized forces in Cueibet have split and divided themselves along sectional lines and are not listening to orders and doing the role of the government. They are doing what is for their community and not the government,” he said.
Machar went on to say that the preliminary information about Tuesday’s clashes is that 15 people died and 28 others were wounded.
He called on the government to send reinforcement as tension was still high.
Col. Machar requested the relatives of the GoK community to go back and assist in settling the differences.
“…also allow sons and daughters of the Gok community who are residing in Juba to come back home to settle the inter-communal differences among themselves.”
Col. Machar said Cueibet County is at risk and even his own life is in danger due to inter-communal hostilities and targeted revenge killings of high-profile members of the community.
Samuel Mabor Makom, a civil society activist in Cueibet County, stressed on the need for the government to send reinforcement in the area.
“Now, there is a massive displacement of people due to the fighting between the two communities. We want to come together as politicians and intellectuals of Cueibet to make peace,” Mabor said.
The civil society activist condemned revenge killings and renewed inter-communal clashes in Greater Lakes state.
