Tribal clash in Jonglei leaves seven villages destroyed
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August 18, 2011 (JUBA)- At least seven villages, in Uror county,
Jonglei state, are reported to have been destroyed by armed youth
groups, allegedly identified as members of Murle ethnic group from
neighbouring Pibor county.
JPEG - 13 kb
Cattle in Jonglei state (UNDP)
In series of interviews with Sudan Tribune on Thursday local
authorities attributed the violence to cattle raiding and tension
between ethnic groups.
South Sudan is home to more than 65 ethnic groups whose territories
span the entire country where 78 percent of families rely on small
scale farming or animal husbandry as their primary source of
livelihood.
South Sudan broke away from the united Sudan on July 9th, after it
conducted a referendum provided in the 2005 peace accord, for the
people of south Sudan to decide whether to remain part of the united
country or opt to form a nation of their own. The plebiscite held in
January saw majority of the eligible voters, both inside and outside
the country, voting for secession from the north by 98%.
South Sudan has continued to experience a high level conflict in
recent years. In 2009, approximately 2,500 were killed and 350,000
displaced by conflict associated with ethnic clashes. The violence
subsided in 2010, but rebellion by ex-military officers has since
added another layer of complexity to the situation.
Tut Puk, an Uror county commissioner on Thursday said in an interview
with Sudan Tribune from Bor, the capital of Jonglei State, that a
group of armed youths identified as members of the neighboring Murle
ethnic group, launched an attack on Pieri district and other
neighboring villages.
Puk said the villages of Matot, Pulchuol, Guancot, Rumaker, Dorganwel,
and Tongyang were attacked and looted.
He estimated that in the Pieri district attack, which “came early in
the morning when some people were still sleeping” has resulted in
400-600 people being unaccounted for.
Puk could not confirm the number of people killed or injured because
the fighting is ongoing. However, he believes there has been a loss of
life.
“I am told alot of people, especially women and the elderly people
have gone missing. Nobody knows what has happened to them, whether
they are alive or killed remains unclear”, said Puk.
Steve Goi, the chairperson of Uror Youth Council in Juba said in an
interview with Sudan Tribune on Thursday that he had reports from
youths of the Lou Nuer ethnic group that they have carried out
reprisal attacks in which there were multiple deaths and injuries.
“There are no details of how many people have been injured or killed
because the fighting, as I am talking to you, is continuing, but I am
told alot of people have been killed”, said Goi.
Goi claimed that local sources described a heavily armed attacking
force which had “equipped themselves like regular army” of 3,000 to
5,000, which “could not be identified because they were in military
uniforms and had all types of weapons.“
He said people in the area were “confused by the way they dressed” as
they had been informed by a local commander that a Sudan People’s
Liberation Army (SPLA) force would be coming to the area to disarm the
local population.
A repercussion of the civil war is the proliferation of small arms in
South Sudan. This has had a dramatic effect on cattle raiding. Also,
the value of cattle has recently rocketed as many men are returning to
their homes with the intention of marrying, after the end of the civil
and with the independence of South Sudan. The exchange of cattle in
marriage is commonplace in South Sudan.
(ST)
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