Seven people killed in Lakes state revenge attack
October 27, 2014 (RUMBEK) – At least seven people have been killed in a revenge attack that took place in South Sudan’s Lakes state county of Rumbek North on Monday, authorities told Sudan Tribune.
The incident was reportedly in retaliation to Saturday’s killing of two chiefs at Ayen Mayer village in Rumbek East county. The executive chief, Mamer Keer Malok and sub-chief, Yuol Janglei Marol were attacked and killed as they traveled to Rumbek Central county.
A police officer said the Kok Keer clan section attacked their Kok-Awac counterparts on suspicion of having killed the two chiefs.
“This morning, five people were killed from both side of Kok Keer and Kok-awac,” a police officer told Sudan Tribune, adding that eight people from both sides were wounded during the clashes.
Lakes state’s caretaker governor, Matur Chut Dhuol, has been accused of allegedly inciting various inter-clan fights in the region.
For instance, he reportedly instructed the police to confront pastoralist youth for fear that they could carry out revenge killings.
In a separate incident, fresh clashes occurred between join security forces and pastoralists at Apet cattle camp in Rumbek North county.
Authorities confirmed that a military car loaded with different of ammunitions was seized by pastoralists at Apet camp. Three soldiers and nine civilians were reportedly killed in the melee that ensured.
In recent months, the police and members of the public have been at logger heads, amid claims that the various communities have become increasingly defiant towards law enforcement agents.
Lakes state has been blighted by cattle raiding since South Sudan’s independence in July 2011 and continues to be locked in a cycle of inter-clan revenge clashes.
Youth activists and traditional authorities have repeatedly called for Dhuol’s removal over claims of failure to control violence, but president Salva Kiir has ignored such calls.
Dhuol was appointed caretaker governor by president Kiir in January 2013.
(ST)