JONGLEI STATE — James Kueth Makuach, a government-appointed county commissioner in South Sudan's Jonglei State, was killed on Sunday during an assault on Walgak. The government confirmed on Monday that Makuach was "assassinated" by opposition forces.

Makuach was killed when opposition fighters launched an assault on Walgak, a remote area located in Akobo West. The ruling party issued a statement on Monday, saying it "strongly condemns the brutal killing" of the commissioner. The party also stated it would hold an emergency session to discuss the killing.

John Wiyual Lul, the opposition-appointed governor, said that opposition fighters briefly seized the area before withdrawing. He added this occurred after government reinforcements arrived. Lul also stated that senior army officers were among those killed during the engagement.

Nyamar Lony Thichiot, the Jonglei State government spokesperson, said casualty figures remained unclear as of Monday. The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission stated on Monday that the renewed violence undermines the implementation of the 2018 peace deal, which ended a civil war. The commission also noted that the violence threatens the safety of civilians.

Makuach had previously defected to President Salva Kiir's ruling party in April, following his removal by the opposition's acting leadership earlier in the year. The government subsequently appointed Makuach as county commissioner. This appointment disregarded a 2018 peace agreement that assigns the Akobo County position to Riek Machar's opposition party. Machar remains imprisoned and faces charges of treason. Fighting in Akobo County began in March when opposition forces targeted a government base.

The United Nations had withdrawn its peacekeepers from a base established to protect civilians in June. South Sudan is scheduled to hold elections on December 22, which will be the first since the country gained independence from Sudan in 2011.