At least 14 people were killed in clashes between two communities in Bul South County in South Sudan's Northern Liech State on Tuesday, a local official said.

Northern Liech State's acting security adviser, Gordon Malou Chiling, told Radio Tamazuj Friday that the clashes erupted between the Chien-Thii and Jak sections of the Bul community over a woman.

“The clashes broke out when a woman from the Jak clan was raped by a man from Chien-Thii community. After the incident, members of the Jak clan went and attacked Chien-Thii community, “he explained.

The acting adviser explained that nine members of the Chien-Thii clan were killed, while five people from Jak community lost their lives during the clashes. “Nine people including a woman from Chien-Thii community were killed, while five people were killed from Jak community,” he explained.

Malou, who is also the commissioner of the state headquarters, noted that security forces were sent to halt the fighting at Kech area in Bul South County.

The official added that the state government has apprehended the perpetrators. “Those who were behind the fighting have been arrested pending investigations. We have arrested eight members of the Jak clan and 10 people from the Chien-Thii clan,” he said.

Malou encouraged the communities to report rape cases to the relevant authorities in the state, while urging them not to take the law into their own hands. “What happened is not good. Our people should not die again after peace in the country,” he said.