20 killed in interethnic clashes in Western Equatoria

April 24, 2006 (JUBA) — Over twenty people have been killed in a series of clashes between the Jur and the Dinka in Mvolo a disputed county between the Lakes state and Western Equatoria.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) further said in its weekly report that clashes have displaced over 18,000 people, according to the UN.

There have been a high number of rapes. The Dinkas have used rape as a particular method to intimidate the Jur community.

“This is an alarming development and reflects the inability of the state authorities to protect women” said the report.

Part of the Jur-Dinka tension lies in the fact that the Dinka would like to utilise Mvolo as grazing lands for their cattle.

The local authorities need to address this issue rapidly and restore calm.

The report did not give a date for these events but it covers the period from 18 to 24 April.

Since the Dinka/Zande/Moru Ethnic clashes erupted violently in Yambio and spreading to other Western Equatoria towns last year in November/December, inter-ethnic tension had been building up again.

During the clashes that time a lot of civilians from both sides died and the clashes led to the exodus of thousands of displaced Ethnic Dinka Bor from the state making their way towards their home counties.

(ST)