By Hou Akot Hou
Two people, including a local chief, have been confirmed dead and two others critically injured on Saturday in a land dispute that turned violent in Kunyuk village, Aweil East County, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State.
Paul Kuc Akot, Director for Information in the office of Aweil East County, confirmed the tragedy in an exclusive phone interview with this outlet on Monday explaining that the violence erupted during a meeting convened by Captain Garang Aleu Wol, an intellectual from the area who works in Juba.
Garang had returned home to mediate a dispute between two closely related clans, Pariath and Paliech, over a piece of land in Kunyuk village. According to Kuc, Garang’s elder brother, Aleu Aleu, suddenly attacked participants during the meeting, spearing three people, including the chief of the Paliech clan, who died instantly.
“The intellectual identified as Captain Garang Aleu Wol convened the meeting to resolve the dispute, but his elder brother Aleu stood up and speared three people, leading to the death of the Paliech chief,” Kuc narrated.
In retaliation, local youth turned on Garang and his younger brother, beating them severely. Garang later succumbed to his injuries, while his younger brother and another victim remain under treatment bringing the death toll to two, with two others critically injured.
“The youth then retaliated against Garang and his younger brother, leaving Garang dead and two others injured.”
Kuc urged residents to avoid convening local meetings without the knowledge of government authorities, stressing that official involvement could provide security and prevent such tragedies.
On Sunday, Governor Charles Madut Akol visited Kunyuk village, where the chief and Captain Garang died, and called for calm while assuring residents that investigations are underway to ensure justice prevails.