Authorities of the defunct Tonj state have reported that 15 people were wounded on Friday following renewed communal clashes in Tonj East.

Tonj East has been experiencing intercommunal violence since August. Fighting between Thiik and Akok versus Luacjang left 10 people dead and over 30 wounded earlier this month.

Gabriel Awan, the secretary-general of the defunct Tonj state confirmed the outbreak of the fighting between Luacjang and Thiik and Akok on Friday. Awan said he is still investigating the cause of the renewed fighting.

“Yesterday (Friday) afternoon fighting erupted resulting in 15 people wounded on both sides. Eight from Luacjang community and seven from Thiik community and no report of people killed,” Gabriel Awan said. 

Thokriel Chileu, the deputy head of security in Tonj East, said the fighting was allegedly instigated by a policeman who sold his gun to civilians in Thiik and Akok area and later reported it stolen, triggering the clashes. 

"The fighting was not caused by civilians. It was started by a policeman who went and sold his gun at a place called Lol Liith between Thiik, Akok, and Luacjang. After returning to Romic, he made a phone call to civilians from Luacjang that his gun had been stolen and the fighting started,” he said.

For his part, Romic Executive Director Makuei Mabior claimed that youth from Luacjang and Thiik clashed while patrolling their common border.

“Yesterday at 3 PM fighting happened but no was killed. People were wounded when these people clashed at the border.” Mabior said.