World · Africa · 9 hrs ago
Clashes in South Sudan’s Rumbek area kill about 70, government says
Clashes between armed youths from rival communities killed about 70 people in the Rumbek area of Lakes state, South Sudan, the government said.
The fighting on Friday involved the Pakam community in Rumbek North County and the Nyang community in Rumbek Central County; both communities are part of the Dinka ethnic group.
The government said the death toll, which includes four soldiers, has not been verified.
Rumbek State Hospital received more than 50 wounded people, and a U.N. peacekeeping force helped protect the hospital and nearby humanitarian sites.
Disputes over cattle and grazing land, as well as revenge killings, have fueled repeated violence in Lakes state, but the cause of this clash is unclear.
The government said troops and police brought Rumbek under control, arrested four armed civilians and recovered four firearms.
The clashes come as South Sudan prepares for national elections scheduled for Dec.
22, after years of delays; an analyst said vacant local government posts may have added to insecurity.
Clashes between armed youths from rival communities in South Sudan’s Rumbek area killed about 70 people, the government said.
The Information Ministry said the toll included four soldiers and had not yet been verified.
More than 50 wounded people were taken to Rumbek State Hospital, which a clinical officer said was overwhelmed.
The immediate cause of Friday’s fighting was unclear, though disputes over cattle and grazing land and revenge killings have fueled repeated violence in the area.
- Who
- Armed youths from the Pakam and Nyang communities fought. The government said about 70 people, including four soldiers, were killed.
- What
- Clashes killed about 70 people and wounded many others.
- When
- The fighting took place on Friday last week.
- Where
- The Rumbek area of Lakes state, South Sudan.
- Why
- The immediate cause was unclear. Disputes over cattle and grazing land, along with revenge killings, have fueled repeated violence.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Fighting swept through the Rumbek area as government soldiers and U.N. peacekeepers tried to maintain order.
The government said troops and police had brought Rumbek under control.
Residents’ representative Daniel Laat Kon said attackers withdrew and he returned home.
Hospital clinical officer Teran Madit told the AP that the hospital had received more than 50 wounded people.
- Reported death toll
- About 70, including four soldiers; not yet verified
- Wounded people received
- More than 50
- Communities involved
- Pakam and Nyang
- Location
- Rumbek area, Lakes state, South Sudan
- Firearms recovered
- Four
- Arrests
- Four armed civilians
What people are saying
We were overwhelmed with the gunshot patients
There were buried tensions and everybody knew that this could flare up, because the root causes of the violence between these communities were never addressed
The security forces tried their level best, but they were outnumbered by the armed youths
How can we be preparing for an election, registering voters, conducting civic education, when people live in fear?
Sources
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