At least one person was killed and several others injured when elements of the Murle and Anyuak communities sheltering at the Mahad displaced peoples’ camp in Juba clashed on Sunday evening, officials said.
Mayen Kur Kuer, the camp’s chairperson, told Radio Tamazuj that the fighting was instigated by some drunkards in the camp.
“There has been a rivalry between the two communities. Last night’s (Sunday) incident was initiated by some Murle boys who were under the influence of alcohol,” he explained. “As camp officials, were tried to deescalate the tensions but were even abused. So, they fought and it resulted in two deaths. 6 people were injured from the Anyuak and 11 from the Murle.”
According to Kur, several houses were torched and that investigations are ongoing into the incident.
“A case was opened at the Malakia Police Station. Camp leaders from the Murle, Anyuak, and Dinka communities, including me, were investigated and now further investigations are ongoing,” he added.
Charles Wello Onyony, an Anyuak lawmaker at the National Legislative Assembly, urged the government to intervene by apprehending culprits.
“Last night (Sunday) at 9 pm, a group of Murle youth attacked the Anyuak killing two and injuring 9 people who are now hospitalized,” he said. “Our message to the government is that they should intervene because this issue between the two communities is now escalating and my community (Anyuak) has not been at peace.”
For his part, Gen. Kennedy Gayen, a member of the Council of States and the head of the Murle community in Juba, confirmed the incident but said he did not have the details.
“We learned about the clashes but we do not have details. We sent our coordinator and a community chief but they did not update us,” he said.
Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Daniel Justin, the police spokesperson, said investigations are ongoing into the incident and that calm has been restored.
“As police, we went to the scene and calm has been restored. Investigations are still ongoing,” he said.
NOTICE OF CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story stated that two people were killed in the clashes. After further investigations, only one person succumbed to his injuries and another one survived.