At least 10 people, including women and children, were killed in separate communal fights on Friday and Saturday in Tonj East County of Warrap State, authorities said.
A County Executive Director, Martin Mum Deng, told Radio Tamazuj that the revenge fight between the Luachjang and Akook sections also left several people nursing bullet wounds.
“Revenge fighting happened between the Luachjang and Akook sections on Friday and Saturday, in which people were killed in Majak Amal Village and in Ngapagok Payam,” he said.
Deng said armed youth often fought at night, making it difficult for the area government to intervene.
Warrap Information and Communication Minister William Wol Mayom confirmed the incidents and said that fear of another revenge attack loomed everyday.
“On 9, August, this year fighting occurred between Luachjang and Akook communities, in which the Luachjang armed youth attacked the Akok communities in Ngapagok Payam, Tonj East County, ” he said.
Wol said the number of people killed rose to 16 as those from the Akok section killed six others from Luacjang, triggering a series of revenge fighting.
He said tension remained high because of the revenge feelings by the families whose members were killed.
The Minister said that it was difficult for the Warrap State Government to provide security due to the inaccessibility of some areas during the rainy seasons.