Unity state attack blamed on Warrap youths

March 15, 2012 (BENTIU) – A member of the Unity state assembly, Peter Dak, claims youths from either Tong East of Tong North county, Warrap state, attacked Jel in Mayom county, Unity state, killing “more than 100 heads of cattle”, stealing “about 400” and wounding four people on Wednesday.

Dak said that Warrap state authorities have been notified about the 8.00am attack on Jel cattle camp. He said the poor road and communication networks hampered efforts to respond to the attack.

He explained that discussions on the subject will be held between Lakes, Unity and Warrap states.

These states were addressed in February by South Sudan’s vice president, Riek Machar, who called for a cessation of inter-state cattle-rustling.

Also, the state governors agreed to hold a meeting in Madol Payam [district] of Mayiandit with the local chiefs from the three states to negotiate a peaceful settlement, but the scheduled dates have been moved from 4 to 16 to 26 of March.

In December 2011 the government of South Sudan said it had disarmed civil population in Warrap.

A new wave of disarmament programmes is in progress across Sudan, Kiir inaugurated Jonglei’s on Monday.

(ST)