Nuer clans clash in Unity state, 7 dead, 9 wounded
November 20, 2013 (BENTIU) – The Leek and Jikany clans of the Nuer ethnic group in Unity state clashed on Tuesday over a disputed piece of land leaving seven dead and nine others seriously wounded.
In 2009, fighting over the same piece of land killed five people. More than 100 members of South Sudan’s militarily and police moved into the area and brought to conflict under control by Tuesday evening.
The deadly incident broke out on Tuesday morning in Rubkotna and Guit counties over who owns the villages of Yoayang, Madereth and Chaalual which are around five kilometres from Rubkotna town and about 15 kilometres from the state capital, Bentiu.
“The cause of fighting is over disputed area that is Yoayang that is located in the east of Rubkotna. That area actually is the contested areas between Jikany and Leek and it resulted to death of people”, Mabek Lang De Ming, the deputy governor of Unity state, said.
De Mading says the conflict between two communities has forced the government to introduce night patrols by the police and army (SPLA). He said that calm has been restored to the area.
“We have deployed forces in Chalual and Yoayang and also we have deployed forces [to] the suspected corridors where the two communities can clash. Then also we have imposed [a] night curfew in Rubkotna and Bentiu yesterday from 8pm to 7am.”
The curfew will continue until the situation returns to normal, according to the deputy governor.
De Mading says the SPLA were sent to Nhialdiu and Panhial areas of Rubkotna county to disperse hundreds of youths who were regrouping in the area with the intention of launching a retaliatory attack.
“This morning there is gathering you know from Rubkotna which is Leek community in place call Nhialdiu and Panhial, and that gathering actually means to mobilise themselves to carry launch another attack as a revenge attack to Jikany community. But we have put our militarily precaution, forces are there and they have dispersed this gathering”, said deputy in an interview with Sudan Tribune on Wednesday.
The deputy governor said they are working to form a committee in the state which will provide South Sudan’s parliament with a recommendation on how to resolve the land dispute.
He says they have already sent members of parliament from both communities to hold talks with local residents to avoid any further escalation in the conflict. However he warned the community to refrain from violence and use peaceful mean to solve their differences.
(ST)