At least seven SPLA-IO soldiers were killed and 10 others injured when the boats they were traveling in were attacked on the Sobat River by an armed youth group on the outskirts of Ulang County, Upper Nile State on Monday. 

According to SPLA-IO and the police, the officers were heading to Juba for the unification of forces when they were ambushed. 

“Those clashes erupted on March 22 at 3 pm. Our forces left Yomding heading to Ulang County for Gutmakur for the unifying process. On reaching the Aying area, they were intercepted and attacked by armed local youth, killing seven of our officers on the spot and injuring 10 others,” William Gatjath Deng, the SPLA-IO military spokesperson, told Radio Tamazuj Tuesday. 

He pointed out that the attack appeared to be motivated by revenge and that investigation is ongoing. 

“Those attackers are not government troops. They appear to be a youth group trying to target some people on the convoy. We deployed our forces to that area and we learned that those youth have fled,” he added. 

Nyok Reng Wol Kerjok, the secretary-general of Upper Nile State, confirmed the incident but said the details remain scanty. 

For his part, Major General Chol Atem Jongeth, the state police commissioner, said investigations are ongoing into the incident. 

“Yesterday, the convoys reached the Canal area at 5 pm and they will proceed to Juba for unification. Hopefully, those attackers are a gang group in that area,” he said.