A former commissioner of the defunct Khorwai County in Jonglei State was killed in inter-communal clashes on Saturday evening, a local official said. 

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Nyok Malual Mayik, the Pigi County commissioner, said the SPLM-IO-appointed Simon Gatwech was shot dead during clashes involving two rival communities on the outskirts of Canal town on Saturday evening.  

“The incident took place at 7 PM in a village called Mat, about 30 minutes walk from Canal town. The former commissioner from the Thoi clan of Khorwai was killed in clashes involving some members of the Rut clan. Also, during the incident, one person was injured,” Nyok explained. 

The local official pointed out that tensions remain high in the Khorwai area. 

“Clashes resumed today (Sunday). As we speak, those people are still fighting in parts of the Khorwai area. what triggered the fighting is not clear but those could be people having grudges with the former commissioner,” he said. 

For his part, Major Majak Daniel Tuor, the state police spokesperson, said he has yet to receive details into the incident.