Feb 25, 2021(Nyamilepedia) — Three Kenyan pastoralists shot a member of South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) in Nadapal, a town in Eastern Equatoria State near the Kenyan border.
According to the executive director of Kapoeta East, Mr Juma Justin, the military officer identified as Private Peter Twach was on his way to the barracks on Sunday evening when he was assaulted.
“Private Peter Twach went home to eat supper but when he was returning to the barracks he met three Turkana armed men on his way and those people shot him,” said Justin. “He was actually not having a gun. Later when the place was searched, it was found that the attackers left their cup and a bottle of water they were carrying. In the morning the footmarks were followed and it entered Kenya,” he continued.
The wounded soldier was rushed to Kapoeta Hospital to receive medical attention.
Dr Mustafa Lokuru , the medical director at Kapoeta Civil Hospital reported that the soldier had sustained bullet injuries to the chest.
“The soldier’s health condition is stable, so we instructed the doctors who were on duty to perform their duty. They did the chest tube for him and an appropriate antibiotic was given and the guy is well, but we have not yet discharged him,” said Dr. Lokuru.
Justin noted that the Kenyan authorities had already been informed of the incident.
“We have already informed the authorities in Kenya so that they can search for the criminal. They must be arrested to face the law because our policy on the common border says issues of cattle should not be mixed with government matters,” said the executive director.
This is not the first incident of this nature in the area. In the past the Turkana pastoralists from Northwest Kenya have had conflicts with the Toposa from South sudan over border tensions and grazing lands.
A recent agreement between the two countries was reached dictating that the neighboring pastoral communities were required to share grazing lands and water points during the dry season.
This was to ease the building border tensions along the common border.
The agreement was reached during a cross border security meeting that was held in the town of Nedapal.
Authorities from Kenya could not e reached for comments on the SSPDF soldier assault issue.
