JUBA: At least 39 people were killed and dozens were injured during violent clashes between rival groups of cattle herders in South Sudan, AFP reported on Friday while citing officials.
The violent confrontations, which occurred on Wednesday, led to 19 deaths among herders from the northwest Warrap region, as reported by William Wol Mayom Bol, the state’s information minister. Additionally, 17 persons sustained injuries in the clashes.
In the neighboring Lake State, police spokesman Major Elijah Mabor Makuac provided a casualty toll of “20 people killed, 36 wounded, and one person still missing” due to the violence. Makuac highlighted that these clashes have become an annual occurrence, with rival cattle herding communities from Warrap and Lake States engaging in conflicts over resources during each dry season.
South Sudan Govt Making Efforts to Ease Tensions
In response to the escalating situation, the government of Warrap state dispatched two committees to the affected area with the aim of lowering tensions and protecting civilians. While minister Bol stated that “the violence has been de-escalated,” he acknowledged that minor clashes were still being reported in inaccessible swampy areas.
Minister Bol’s statement released on Thursday called for peaceful co-existence and cooperation between the two sisterly states, emphasizing the need for harmonious relations to prevent further bloodshed.
South Sudan, one of the world’s poorest countries despite its significant oil reserves, has endured prolonged periods of conflict, natural disasters, economic challenges, and communal tensions.
