6 killed, 12 wounded in Western Lakes state ambush

December 28, 2019 (RUMBEK) – Six traders were killed and 12 others injured in an ambush in South Sudan’s Western Lakes state on Wednesday.

The state chamber of commerce chairperson, Martin Mayen said the incident involved cattle traders from Gok state heading to Maridi to sell their cattle.

He said the ambush occurred in the Madeira area near Maridi state.

“We had traders from Gok state who were moving with their cattle to Maridi state when they reached a place known as Madeira, they were ambushed by the criminals near the river, 6 were killed and 12 were wounded, Mayen told Eye Radio on Friday.

Those wounded, he added, are being treated at Maridi state’s main hospital.

The official said the attackers stole about 1,400 heads of cattle during the ambush.

Cattle raiding, a longstanding practice among pastoralists in South Sudan, was historically governed by cultural authorities and ritual prohibitions. However, after decades of on-and-off integration into armed forces, raiders are now heavily armed, and military-style attacks claim dozens if not hundreds of lives at a time

(ST)