Security restored in S. Sudan Lakes state after ethnic clashes

Dec 6, 2005 (RUMBEK) — The security situation in Yambio may be returning to normal following intervention by the vice-president of the government of Southern Sudan, Dr Riek Machar.

Last week, violence broke out again in Yambio between the Zande and Dinka communities.

After another conflict which broke last Tuesday, vice-president of Southern Sudan came and intervened in this problem. Both Dinka and Zande have reconciled after they had a meeting and a kind peace occasion in which they gathered together to greet each other. So the situation is now calm. People are now walking.

Those institution around are working – hospitals are open, big market is open, school is open, so people are now doing fine.

According to Sudan Radio Service (SRS), the violence has claimed about 20 lives but the exact number is yet to be confirmed.

Machar has ordered all un-deployed SPLA soldiers in Western Equatoria to report to Yei immediately.

The government of Lakes State has imposed a night curfew in Rumbek to prevent any attempt to replicate last month’s communal violence in Tombura, Western Equatoria state, southern Sudan.

Reports indicate that there is general fear in Rumbek among people from Equatoria that there might be retaliatory attacks from the locals following the violence that broke out in Yambio, capital of Western Equatoria, early last month.

The governor of lakes state, John Lat Zacariah, last week warned people against planning any attacks on people from other regions working in Rumbek.

(SRS/ST)