Latest News in Lou Nuer Akobo County

Two Akobo fishing families murdered at Perek Fishing area North of Pibor River

AKOBO,September 5th ,2009
It have been confirmed this morning that an approximately hundred armed youth belonging to Nasser County attacked two fishing families of Akobo County at Perek fishing camp further north of Akobo town near Wanding village and killed four men, a woman and young girl, witnesses who survived the attacked confirmed two days after the attack which happened on September 3rd, just one month after the Mareng Attack.

Akobo County is caught in the middle of deadly contest with Murle to the south, perpetrators of Mareng attack and Nasser County in the north who are once again threatening to block the river transport to Akobo as a result of the recent attack. As the next of kin of the victims were informed yesterday, the Akobo Commissioner once again urged calm, as Akobo is at the crossroads of hunger, draught and ethnic onslaught. “You have witnessed the role being played by All concerned including UN and Nasser Commissioner to ease tensions after the last attack on UN barges by a group of Nasser County armed civilians; let us be patient and hope that Nasser authorities will apprehend the perpetrators of the attack and pray that UN food destined to Akobo arrives without hindrance this time” Goi Jooyul Yol, Akobo commissioner was quoted.

WFP stopped supplying food by air two weeks ago to Akobo and is prepared deliver food by river through Nasser for Akobo. Sources in Malakal say that there are some unusual delays caused by Upper Nile State Government for boats departure to Akobo. Yesterday an ICRC boat was detained in Nasser by the local authorities and was only released this morning when the crew refused to carry an armed escort which is against ICRC mandate.

Last week, the Nasser Commissioner visited Akobo and held talks with Akobo Commissioner in presence UNMIS delegation and the community chiefs and have agreed to keep the river corridor secure from attacks by identifying the criminals and bringing them to book. They have also agreed to start grass root community peace initiative between Akobo and Nasser Youth in the near future, after the peace conference between Lou Nuer Counties and Pibor County on September 15th, 2009.

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