By Lodu William Odiya
The Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) Caucus has disputed claims that the late Kapoeta East County Commissioner was killed in an ambush, calling instead for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Addressing the media in Juba on Tuesday, Lawryen Ibon, the chairperson of the caucus, expressed condolences to the family of the late commissioner and the people of Kapoeta East County, while challenging statements previously issued by the Eastern Equatoria State Government, the Greater Pibor Administrative Area Government, and the Eastern Equatoria parliamentary caucus.
“We have come to convey our condolences to the immediate family of the late commissioner and to the entire community of Eastern Kapoeta County,” he said.
The lawmakers maintained that the commissioner’s death should not be described as an ambush, arguing that the confrontation occurred within Kachangor Payam during fighting involving armed individuals and soldiers who were accompanying the commissioner.
“The killing of the Honourable Commissioner was not an ambush. The fighting occurred within Kachangor Payam between the community and the soldiers who escorted the commissioner,” the caucus stated.
The caucus urged the Council of States to establish an independent committee to investigate the incident and establish the facts surrounding the killing.
“We request the Council of States to form a committee to go to the area and investigate the incident,” Ibon stated.
In addition, the lawmakers called on the Council of States to summon the Governor of Eastern Equatoria State and the Chief Administrator of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area to provide a detailed account of the events leading to the commissioner’s death.
“We request the Council of States to summon the Governor of Eastern Equatoria State and the Chief Administrator of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area to appear before the Council and present statements on what happened,” the caucus said.
The appeal comes amid growing public concern over the deadly incident in the disputed Kasengor area, with political leaders and civil society organisations urging restraint and calling for a transparent investigation to prevent further tensions between neighboring communities.
The Greater Pibor Administrative Area caucus concluded by thanking members of the media and representatives of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area who attended the press briefing, reiterating the need for facts to be established through an impartial investigation.