Sudden Dawn Violence in Jonglei
Gunfire shattered the pre-dawn calm in Pieri Payam, Uror County, on Monday when forces loyal to First Vice-President Riek Machar reportedly attacked an SPLM/A-IO Kitgwang position, authorities told Radio Tamazuj.
County Commissioner James Gatkhor Gatluak said the firefight began about 2 a.m., leaving one soldier dead and two wounded, one on each side, before calm returned.
Disputed Main Battle Tank
Local officials linked the skirmish to a dispute over control of a main battle tank long held by the Kitgwang faction.
The tracked vehicle, a potent symbol of leverage in a region peppered with small arms, has repeatedly stirred tension among rival contingents of the wider SPLA-IO movement.
Official Kitgwang Response
Lt. Col. Nyang Gony Gai, press secretary to Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual, issued a statement condemning the ‘destructive act’ and claiming Kitgwang troops withdrew to safeguard civilians.
‘The SPLM/A-IO Kitgwang will defend itself and respond soon to warmongers,’ he warned, while dismissing social-media talk that the faction planned to hand over weapons to Juba.
Allegations and Counter-Claims
Gony labelled the rumours ‘baseless,’ arguing they aimed to mask ongoing confrontations between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces and Machar-aligned SPLA-IO units elsewhere.
He cited recent bombardments in Pieri and Lankien as evidence of that broader contest, asserting Kitgwang was not contemplating any surrender.
Civilians Advised to Flee
The statement urged residents to ‘distance themselves from destructive elements’ and seek safer ground, reflecting deep fears of escalation in a county already scarred by cycles of violence.
Local aid workers contacted by phone said displacement would strain fragile humanitarian stocks, though no mass movement had yet been recorded.
Prospects for Stability
Kitgwang leaders promised to ‘address the situation promptly,’ but observers note repeated intra-rebel clashes have hampered implementation of South Sudan’s 2018 revitalised peace deal.
For now, Pieri’s battered residents wait to see whether rival commanders will prioritise negotiation over firepower in one of Jonglei’s most contested frontiers.