Warrap state cattle raid: multiple deaths

By Ngor Arol Garang

March 26, 2012 (JUBA) – At least 11 people in Twic County, Warrap state were killed on 25 March, Twic County commissioner, Dominic Deng Kuoc Malek, told Sudan Tribune on 26 March.

Mostly women and children are said to have been killed as several others are also reported to have sustained injuries in a cattle raid allegedly carried out by an armed militia from neighbouring Unity state, Malek told Sudan Tribune on Monday.

Local authorities, who said some of the cattle have been recovered, explained that the attack took place at Kueny Amol cattle camp.

Malek said seven of the attackers were killed.

“They were well equipped and armed with modern weapons including RPGs and Kalashnikov rifles and had handheld grenades. They were moving like an organised army from Unity State”, Malek told Sudan Tribune.

Malek said the people of the state were vulnerable to attack because they faithfully followed the calls from the Juba government to carry out nationwide disarmament programmes.

In February Malek called on Juba to carry out a disarmament programme in Unity.

Achai Arop Deng, a member of Warrap State Legislative Assembly told Sudan Tribune the wounded have been taken to hospital in Turalei.

Previous peace talks between Warrap and Unity state over cattle-raiding violence ended with accusations by Warrap officials of an ambush against them orchestrated by their Unity State counterparts.

(ST)