10 killed in inter-tribal clashes in South Sudan – report
6 Oct, 2005 (JUBA) — Escalating violence between the people of Moru and internally displaced people, (IDPs) Dinka Bor is occurring in Wande Payam in Western Equatoria State, with the death toll now reaching 10 women and children since 10 September, states Moru elder Festo Jambo, The Independent Juba Post reported.
According to Festo, his own son, Hillary Wesley Jambo, fell into an ambush of Dinka Bor IDPs while he was on his way from Tali en route to Lui to get some goods for his business.
Simon Timon, who arrived in Juba from the area on 29 September, explained that the Dinka Bor use the gardens of the Moru people as grazing land. Using machine guns, they force cattle onto the gardens and keep guard on the confiscated land to allow their cattle to graze.
“Whenever the owner of the garden comes he is chased away,” states Simon Timon.
He went on to say that on 9 September, the citizens in an area called Milaba, in Wande Payam, Mundu County, detained nine of the cattle belonging to the Dinka Bor IDPs. When the owners came in search of the animals, they sent one elderly man to go and negotiate for the release of the animals. The Dinka elder begged for the release of six of the cows because they had small calves that needed feeding. The Moru chief released six of the nine cows to the Dinka Bor in good faith, explains Simon.
According to Simon Timon, as soon as the elderly man took the six cows, another armed gang, who they suspected to have taken cover while the negotiations for cattle took place, emerged and attacked the chief’s residence and took the remaining three cows. During the clash one of the Dinka was shot.
“Since Tuesday 4 October, fighting between the Dinka and Moru was still continuing. Dinka Bor are now using guerrilla tactics,” Jambo says.
In addition, residents report that by last Monday the Dinka Bor IDPs had taken position at Tapari Bridge.
They are telling the people they will not leave the area except with bloodshed.
“We the elders of Wande residing in Juba are deeply concerned about the issue and want to raise a memo to the leadership of the Government of South Sudan about the situation at the moment in the area.
“This is a violation of the communique issued on 19 March 2005 concerning the returning of Dinka Bor IDPs back to their place of origin by April, as agreed upon in the Tali conference,” states Festo Jambo.
In March this year, a peace conference was held in Tali that established an agreement to allow displaced Dinka Bor safe passage to return to their homeland, although many Dinka Bor IDPs have not made the journey.
(Juba Post/ST)