Local authorities in Tonj East County of South Sudan have reported a shocking incident involving the Sherika Eyat military barrack, which had just been attacked by local members of the community.
Reports have that some armed youth groups from the Thiik community ambushed the army base.
The traditional Thiik militia, who normally work as cattle grazers, allegedly surrounded the barrack, beat up and disarming the South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) soldiers who were stationed there.
According to the county’s executive director, Malok Gurec, the civilians from the Thiik community managed to disarm the SSPDF soldiers and took from them at least six AK-47 machine guns.
Since the incident, the soldiers have left their barrack defenseless and disarmed.
Even more astonishing, the SSPDF commander was also captured by the Thiik community elders, who claimed he had recently taken one of their daughters into marriage by force.
It is still not known what the irate Thiik are going to do with the army commander.
The Thiik community has been accusing the SSPDF soldiers of fueling attacks between them and their nemesis the Akok community by supporting the latter.
It is being alleged that some of the soldiers serving with the South Sudan people’s Defense Forces, have been supplying arms to the Akok community empowering the latter to invade or attack members of the Thiik community.
During the recent clashes between the Akok and Thiik communities, one of SSPDF soldiers was killed by the members of the Thiik community, and his Russian made Kalashnikov PKM weapon was seized.
At the Sherika Eyat military barrack, only one RBG Bolt Action Rifle and boxes packed with 12 machine gun bullets were left behind by the civilians.
The county’s headquarters now has these boxes of machine gun bullets and the single RBG rifle in stock serving as a stark reminder of the series of chaos that have been unfolding in the county.
The situation remains tense as authorities work to restore order and seek justice for the victims of the violence.