Lakes state violence kills 30 people in Rumbek

January 9, 2014 (RUMBEK) – Inter-clan clashes erupted in Rumbek, the capital of Lakes State on Thursday at remote cattle camps in Manyiel and Jahla resulting into 37 deaths, according to South Sudanese police.

More than 30 people have been admitted to Rumbek hospital with a gunshot wounds after the attack which is believed to have been a cattle-raiding-related revenge attack carried out by the Kuei against the Rup section of the Dinka ethnic group.

An officer from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the police in Lakes state told Sudan Tribune that “37 people are killed from both sides and now 30 people are admitted in Rumbek hospital.”

Police and army forces were jointly sent to intervene, he said. The violence comes after requests by local chiefs and youth for outstanding murder cases to be urgently solved were ignored by the government, the police source said.

“There are youth also who were being provoked by random arrests made by state government in Langcok without charges” placed against those who were captured.

After the cattle camp confrontation has spread fear through out Rumbek Central county. The Lakes state government has not declared a curfew.

Some families have not brought their relatives who have been shot to Rumbek hospital for fear that they will be arrested, a member of the security services told Sudan Tribune. The number of dead will increase, the source said.

Activist and traditional leaders have repeatedly questioned why there has been no election since Lakes state military caretaker Governor Maj-Gen Matur Chut Dhuol was appointed a year ago.

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir sacked Chol Tong Mayay in January 2013. Under the young nation’s transitional constitution if the President removes a governor a by-election should be held within three months.

In the last year three governors have been removed – two sacked and one promoted – but there are no plans for any elections to be held before general elections scheduled for 2015.

Former governor Mayay is one of the politicians arrested last month accused of staging an attempted coup. The government is currently fighting a three- week-old rebellion which began in the capital but has spread to Jonglei and Unity state.

Mayay and the other political detainees deny staging a coup and claim Kiir is using the unrest to silence his critics.

(ST)