By William Madouk
Eastern Equatoria State is mourning the loss of Kapoeta East County Commissioner Stephen Lowosio Lomogin, who was killed in an ambush during an official visit to the disputed Kessengor area, authorities have confirmed.
The commissioner was travelling to Kessengor, also known as Kater Payam, as part of a routine tour when he came under attack.
Confirming the incident, Eastern Equatoria State Information Minister Elia John said Lomongin had been carrying out his official duties when the attack occurred.
“The Commissioner of Kapota East was indeed going for his official routine tour to his area of operation, but unfortunately, on his way to one of the bomas called Kasengor, he was ambushed by the criminals who are radicalized by the recent visits of the leadership of Greater Pibora Administrative Area,” Elia said.
The minister then delivered the news that shocked many across the state.
“We have lost our Commissioner,” he said.
Elia called on residents to remain calm and allow authorities to investigate the killing.
“We are calling upon our state peace-loving people to remain calm and allow the relevant institution to do the independent investigation to establish the motive behind the killing of a Commissioner in his own territory,” he said.
He also dismissed reports that there had been a clash between the commissioner’s team and armed groups.
“It is a lie, as we heard from the government of Pibor, that there was a clash and intense fighting. I don’t know whom they were fighting with because our people were not going to fight. They were going for a visit, a peaceful visit,” he said.
According to Elia, the commissioner and his team were not expecting any violence.
“They were not prepared for any fighting. For that reason, there was no reason for them to respond because they don’t expect it,” he added.
The state government has called on the national government to step in and investigate the incident.
“We call upon the national government to come in and intervene because this is an issue now connecting the two different states. So it requires the intervention of the national government to come and conduct an investigation and to effectively resolve this issue,” Elia said.
When contacted, Greater Pibor Administrative Area Information Minister Jacob Werchum Juok said he had not yet received full details from the area.
“Currently, I have no full details about what happened on the ground in the contested area,” Jacob said.
“I just talked to the Commissioner a few minutes ago. When he confirms to me, I will let you know because the area where the alleged fighting occurred is very far and there is no network coverage from there.”
The killing comes against the backdrop of a growing dispute between Eastern Equatoria State and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area over the ownership of Kessengor.
Tensions escalated last week after GPAA Chief Administrator Gola Boyoi Gola and National Deputy Information Minister David Yau Yau visited the area, prompting protests from Eastern Equatoria authorities.
In response, GPAA issued a statement insisting that Kessengor belongs to its territory.
“The Area’s Administration would like to state clearly that Kizingor (Kater) is indisputably and legally part of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area,” the statement said.
GPAA maintained that the visit was a routine engagement with local communities and rejected any suggestion that it was linked to the commissioner’s death.
“Your state coordinator was attacked and tragically killed in the villages of Eastern Equatoria State, with no apparent link to GPAA,” the administration said.
As investigations begin, the death of Stephen Lowosio Lomongin is expected to deepen tensions over Kessengor, an area claimed by both Eastern Equatoria State and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, while increasing calls for the national government to intervene and prevent further violence.