JUBA – The Commissioner of Morobo County in South Sudan’s Central Equatoria State has been ambushed in Panyume Payam.
Charles Data Bullen was reportedly ambushed on Sunday, May 4, 2025, while inspecting the Gulumbi-Kajokeji highway in Nyori Boma, Panyume Payam.
A statement from the commissioner’s press office said the commissioner came under attack during an inspection of a road project in the payam.
“The commissioner’s convoy was assessing road safety and security in preparation for the potential return of displaced populations to their homes following recent clashes,” said the statement.
The press unit stated that the attack was launched when Mr. Bullen encountered some Ugandan nationals tracing the whereabouts of their loved ones.
“The attack occurred when the commissioner met with Ugandan charcoal traders searching for missing colleagues. The convoy successfully repelled the attack,” it said.
The commissioner has cautioned against potential remnants of rebels in the areas of Nyori, Kejiko East, and Kendila, urging local forces to remain vigilant.
The Press Secretary in the office of the commissioner, Juruga Samuel Andrews, told Sudans Post that while the identity of the attackers was not established, the county authorities suspect members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO).
“It’s not clear, but there’s a high possibility that these are some of the IOs who fled that side. They attacked to scare away the government soldiers, thinking that these guys meant to attack them,” Samuel said, adding that the suspects will be pursued.
“Of course, the commissioner said that the SSPDF forces will pursue these guys, and any civilian around the area should take note,” he said.
Panyume is a place located in Morobo County of Central Equatoria State, South Sudan and also serves as the administrative area of Panyume payam. Panyume has been affected by the South Sudan conflict, which broke out in 2016, forcing many people to flee to refugee settlements in Uganda.
The Press Secretary said the simmering tensions in the area invoked that memory and drove civilians in the area back to the camp.
“Honestly speaking, brother, there are no civilians on that side. They evacuated since the signs of clashes started to appear. Most of them are on the Ugandan side,” stated the press secretary.
The attack coincided with another ambush, which claimed the life of a Somalian and led to the burning of a track along the Juba–Terekeka road.
