Two people killed, 14 injured in Lakes state youth clashes
November 24, 2013 (RUMBEK) – Authorities in Lakes state’s capital, Rumbek, said inter-clan clashes between youths in Yirol West and Rumbek Central counties have left two dead and 14 injured.
So far two people have been reported to have been killed in separate murder cases.
On 17 November, one person was killed in Mapuordit payam in Yirol West county while youths from the Dinka Kok clan were performing traditional dances at the Ngop cattle camp.
According to police accounts, fighting erupted after a Kok man in the company of youths from the Paleu clan raised a drum and made an announcement, which was considered an act of aggression by the other Kok performers. They responded by slapping the young man, with some of the Paleu fighting back in his defence.
In a separate incident on 19 November, fighting erupted again between youths belonging to the Kok and Paleu groups, leaving one person dead, while 14 others suffered gunshot wounds after the South Sudanese army (SPLA) opened fire to break up the clashes.
A police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the incident, saying 14 people had been admitted to Mapuordit hospital.
Marial Amuom Malek, a member of parliament representing Yirol West county in the Lakes state assembly, also confirmed the incident.
Amuom blames Lakes state’s caretaker governor for worsening insecurity in the state, saying injustice and harassment of youth by security agents was escalating the current situation.
Amuom claims the violent situation in Rumbek Central county is second only to Baghdad, saying the death toll was rising daily, with security personnel also targeting and detaining innocent people.
“There is internal displacement from rural villages to town, now no sleeping at night because youth are walking with their AK-47 [machine guns], and this attitude erupted when youth are continually being harassed by authorities”, Amuom said
On Saturday night, a young man was killed at a party at Malual-Akan residential area by a group of people believed to under the influence of alcohol.
The criminal investigation department (CID) in Rumbek confirmed that five people suspected of involvement in the killing had been arrested and taken to Langcok military prison on Sunday morning.
A senior police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity declined to reveal the identity of the victim, saying media would be kept informed of developments in the case.
“[The] security situation had resumed badly, people are killed and [the] state government is having [a] poor relationship with it chiefs and tracking information from community is becoming very hard”, the officer said.
Meanwhile, in Mading village, about 4kms from Rumbek Central county, 28-year-old Bol Akool Mabor died following a suspected revenge attack on Saturday. Police said investigations are continuing.
(ST)