10 villagers killed in tribal fighting in Sudan’s Equatoria
Mar 24, 2006 (JUBA) — Inter tribal clashes between Dinka Bor and Moru villagers occurred in Bambu, Ibba country in Western Equatoria State, with the death tool reaching 10 people, the Juba Post reported.
Many Bambu villagers have taken refuge in Madebe village, nine miles from Ibba, where they were reported to be sleeping in the open without adequate food and other daily needs.
The cause of the fighting is not known.
Southern Sudan government was confronted by the tribal fighting in this region since the signing of the Sudan Peace Agreement. Earlier this month, the Deputy Governor of Western Equatoria, Joseph Ngere Pachiko, said that the security situation in his state has improved.
In December 2005, the southern authorities with the UNHCR started to relocate the Dinka to their home land in Junglei State.
The Dinka had been involved in a series of clashes with members of another tribe in Mundri, Western Equatoria, where they have been living for the past 14 years. The other tribe accused the Dinka of allowing their cattle to encroach on its grazing land and destroy its crops.
Moru and Azande people are peasants whose livelihood depends entirely on agricultural products. The Dinka on the other hand are pastoralists and farmers.
The influx of the Dinka Bor Population into Western Equatoria State was attributed to the split in the SPLM/A on 27th August 1991.
The split was along tribal lines, with the dissidents drawing support mainly from Nuer, while the Dinka ethnic groups largely supported the mainstream movement. Confrontation between these factions culminated into Bor masscare in 1991.
Taking the advantage of the split, the Government of the Sudan (GoS) attacked and recaptured Bor town in 1992.
These incidents resulted in mass exodus of Dinka Bor westwards. Initially, the IDPs had wanted to settle in Bahr El Ghazal, but after they were refused settlement, they continued their movement until they arrived Mundri and were only allowed to settle there after Bishop Nathaniel Garang pleaded with Church leaders in Mundri to allow his people to settle.
(ST/JubaPost)