Duk county of Jonglei State began 2024 with grief and shock as a result of tragic incidents that unfolded on Friday, December 29, 2023, and Thursday, January 4, 2024 where Murle criminals attacked Kadiang Boma of Duk Payuel Payam and Poktap Boma of Ageer Payam respectively.
In Kadiang, Murle criminals ambushed and opened fire on a group of women and men who went to harvest thatching grass, leaving one person dead.
On Thursday, January 4, 2024, at around 3 pm, inter-tribal clashes accelerated by cattle raiding occurred between the Murle armed youth and the Duk youth in Poktap, resulting in a significant loss of life and property.
The violent encounter led to the untimely demise of 23 lives (22 youths from Duk County and one from Uror County) who were trying to recover the cattle and repulse the attackers. 17 youths from Duk County were also wounded, they are nursing wounds in one of the hospitals in Juba.
In the aftermath of the inter-tribal clashes, approximately 7000 herds of cattles were raided, further exacerbating the economic losses on the affected communities.
We Duk County Youth in Jonglei strongly condemn this continuous barbaric act of Murle criminals which is given deaf ears by both the State and National governments.
We therefore urge the state and national governments to provide protection to civilians and their property and ensure that the culprits are brought to justice.
We stand united as a community against violence and divisiveness, emphasizing the importance of coexistence and harmony among different tribes, and ethnic community members must come together, supporting one another and ensuring that such tragic events do not recur.
We urge the neighbouring counties of Uror, Nyirol, Ayod, Akobo, Twic East and Bor to be very vigilant and ready to defend themselves in case the same incident occurs.
We extend our sincere condolences and solidarity to the families who lost their loved ones during this difficult situation.
May the souls of innocent sons of Duk rest in peace.
Noble Leek Goi, DCYA Chairman, Jonglei State.
