Raid leaves five youths dead in Verthet
Five villagers were shot dead and one wounded when armed youth stormed Muur village, Verthet County, at around 11 a.m. Saturday, according to GPAA information minister Jacob Werchum Jouk. The raiders drove off roughly 2,500 cattle. Local herders recovered most animals, but about 400 remain missing.
Werchum said pursuit teams later counted 36 dead among the assailants, underlining the clash’s intensity.
GPAA plea for swift government action
Citing rising tension ahead of a scheduled peace conference, Werchum appealed to Eastern Equatoria’s authorities to curb youth mobilization and help bring suspects to account.
Eastern Equatoria questions casualty report
State information minister Elia John Ahaji said Juba heard of the raid only through media, stressing that a fatality figure of 36 would have triggered immediate alerts.
His office has launched checks with local chiefs and security units to verify the accounts and coordinate any joint response.
Community fears and search for peace
Residents on both sides worry that revenge cycles could spiral if missing cattle and bodies remain unaccounted for, observers note.
Regional elders and church leaders are pressing for the planned dialogue to proceed, arguing that restoring stolen livestock may prove the quickest confidence-building measure.