At least 12 people were killed in inter-communal clashes in Maban County in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State, forcing a large number of people in Al-Arabiba and Sit Al-Nafar areas to flee to Gismallah area, a local official said.

 Luk Sadalla Deng, Maban County Commissioner, told Radio Tamazuj yesterday that two armed groups clashed in the area and that one person was killed from each side.

He pointed out that the clashes also reached Sit al Nafar area where six people were killed and Aradiba village where one person was reported killed.

The commissioner noted that about 513 people fled the area due to the clashes, saying the displaced families are currently living in dire humanitarian conditions. He added that about four people are still missing.

A committee was set up to carry out investigations into what caused the clashes, according to the local official.