LS Ambush: CID Officer Wounded, Commissioner Survives, Public Uncooperative, Attackers At Large

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Lakes state minister of Information and Communication, Marik Nanga Marik, confirmed the incident, terming the ambush as a “dishonest shooting” and urging the civil population to cooperate with the state government’s investigation, despite differences they may have with the state administration.  

The Minister said that “the ambush happened at Buoi village near the former military prison at Longcok”, adding that Officer Makur “was shot at his left leg and has now been admitted in Rumbek hospital” and confirming: “the Commissioner barely escaped the attackers, but is safe.”

The latest attack follows the April murder of an Ethiopian driver in the same area. The attackers on that occasion were reported, to sudantribune.com, to be a mixture of men who appeared to be cattle raiders and others who were dressed in military fatigues. To date no arrests have been made in relation to either the earlier killing, or the current attack. 

It is believed that the criminal investigations are being hampered by the refusal, of many members of the public in Lakes state, to share information related to security issues with investigating agents. This is believed to be connected to ongoing efforts, by youth activists and traditional authorities, to achieve the removal of caretaker governor Maj-Gen Matur Chut Dhuol.  

Since the Caretaker Governor’s appointment, in September 2012, to replace the sacked former elected incumbent, Chol Tong Mayai, controversy has reigned over his remaining in post beyond the 70 days specified, in South Sudan’s Transitional Constitution, as the period within which elections should be held. Maj-Gen Matur was appointed with a specific remit to address insecurity in the state, which has been beset with serious and ongoing inter-communal clashes.

Since the outbreak of the current crisis in December 1013, some of Lakes state’s youth have refused to join military forces recruited to fight against the rebels led by former vice president Riek Machar, leading to increased tensions within the state.