Nimule, 11 July 2022; Tension remains high after the assassination of acting Madi paramount chief, John Ebele Alex in Nimule town, Magwi County Eastern Equatoria state. 

Chief Ebele was reportedly shot in the chest by a Dinka young man said to be a student from Fulla Secondary school, security source who asked for his identity to be concealed told South Sudan Liberty News from Nimule that the assailant killer was among those recruiters by National Security Services to monitor and report back among tiger Division any potential Madi leaders who have been calling for Dinka Bor to leave Madi land. 

It was also revealed the killer weapon could have been brought to Nimule by Madam Rebecca Garang, the widow of the founding leader of the Sudan People Liberation Movement. Though cannot independently be verified, a source within security in Nimule said Madam Rebecca Nyadeng made an unannounced night trip to Nimule at the end of May and went back to Juba very early the following day. she was reportedly have been accompanied by senior politicians from Jonglei whose identities remained unknown. The same source said weapons were ferried into Nimule after the unannounced visit by Rebecca Nyadeng. 

An eyewitness who was present at the scene of the shooting said, Chief Ebele was attending a community meeting for those who were killed by Dinka Bor cattle herders on Sunday morning in Mugali, Mugali is situated about 30 km east of Nimule.  several eyewitnesses said the assailant first came and wanted to take photos of those present in the meeting, he was, however, asked to leave because he wasn't part of the meeting, he then told those who asked him to leave that let them wait he will be back. 

indeed, shortly he came back with five other associates with firearms and they open indiscriminately fires hitting chief Ebele in the chest and killing him instantly, the assailants also shot and killed one policeman whose identity is still not made available, and they also injured another police officer who is said to have hailed from Lathuho, from Torit County. 

Andrew Olweny 

Reporting from Nimule