13 people died and 20 others wounded in complex clashes in Rumbek
June 2, 2015 (RUMBEK) – At least 13 people were killed and dozens more wounded on Monday when rival sections of the Dinka community in the South Sudan’s Lakes state clashed in Rumbek counties.
Fighting erupted when residents of Malek-Agok payam of Rumbek East county came under attack in what was believed to be a cycle of revenge killings between communities of Gong and Thuyic, both belonging to Dinka Agaar clan.
According to an eyewitness, Moses Maker, seven people were killed and 18 others sustained gunshot wounds from Gong section while four people were killed and five others were wounded from the side of Thuyic section.
State government minister of information and communication, Dhieu Wal Takping, refused to comment when contacted to verify the information, saying that he was just returning from Juba and did not yet received report about the clashes.
But according to the police’s Criminal Investigation Department’s (CID) officer who spoke on condition of anonymity, he confirmed to Sudan Tribune that the clashes resulted in loss of many lives. He added that more personnel from the state police were being sent to quell the insecurity in Malek-Agok payam.
In separate clashes between cattle raiders and police forces in Abeer payam, located in western part of Rumbek Central county, 2 policemen were killed by cattle raiders while trying to intervene.
“Suspected cattle raiders arrived in Abeer and surrounded policemen who were walking cows. They started firing at policemen, killing two on spot and shooting in self-defence. Two of the cattle raiders who were injured managed to escape,” Police sergeant Akot Majok told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday.
He described Monday as a bad day that left 13 people killed and 25 wounded in complex clashes in Rumbek East and Rumbek Central counties.
Lakes state has been embroiled in cycles of revenge attacks with many blaming government for allegedly failing to curb insecurity.
The situation recently worsened when a joint force of the police and military withdrew from all hotspots in the state, claiming they had no way to collect information due to community’s failure to cooperate.
Data from Lakes state Criminal Investigation Department reported an increase in crime-related incidences within the volatile region.Youth activists and traditional authorities have repeatedly called for the removal of governor Matur Dhuol amid claims he had failed to stem the violence, but president Salva Kiir has overlooked these calls.
Dhuol was appointed in 2013 after president Kiir sacked elected governor Chol Tong Mayay.
(ST)