Local authorities in Twic County of Warrap State and Abyei Administrative Area have traded accusations over who instigated Monday’s clashes in Athony village that left two people dead and another five injured from both sides.
The Twic County executive director, Joseph Taban, accused armed youth from the Abyei Administrative Area who he alleges were backed by UNISFA of attacking civilians in Athony village in Twic County.
“The clashes occurred this (Monday) morning when youth from Abyei attacked Athony village and other places and killed two persons from Twic and another who hails from Aweil and injured three others and who were brought to Turalei hospital,” Taban said.
He added: “The armed Abyei youth also burned houses and were walking with UNISFA forces. They just attacked people in their houses and I do not know why they came.”
For his part, the Abyei information minister, Ajang Deng Miyen, accused armed youth from Twic County of first attacking Malual Aleu village in Alal County.
“Youth from Twic County came and attacked Malual Aleu village in Alal County and when the area youth followed them, they clashed between Athony and Malual Aleu,” Minister Deng said. “The report I have is that two people from Abyei were wounded and nobody died but I do not know the casualties from the Twic side.”
“There is no army to intervene in the Abyei area. When UNISFA intervened, the Twic youth shot at them, and then the Abyei youth clashed with the youth from Twic. This is what happened,” he added.
In March, armed youth from Twic County attacked Aneet market killing scores and burning the market and surrounding settlements.
After the clashes between the two communities, President Salva Kiir formed a committee headed by Vice President Hussein Akol to investigate and find out the root causes of the fighting.
Several meetings were held in Twic County and Abyei by the committee to restore tranquility and the two communities said they had reconciled at a meeting held in Aweil on 4 April.
Meanwhile, Investment Minister Dhieu Mathok Diing who is the secretary of the Twic-Ngok inter-communal clashes investigation committee, on Monday in a public statement condemned the renewed clashes.
“The committee on the inter-communal clashes in Aneet settlement learned with dismay the resumption of clashes between Twic and Ngok in Athony on 8 and 9 May that led to the loss of lives and property,” Minister Mathok wrote. “The committee strongly condemns the resumption of clashes and reminds the parties of their obligations stipulated in the cessation of hostilities agreement signed in Aweil on 4 April…”
He urged UNISFA to cooperate in the quest for stability in the area and support the implementation of the ceasefire between the two communities.
“The committee calls upon the clashing parties to immediately recommit themselves to the cessation of hostilities agreement and stop violence,” Ministers Mathok urged. “The committee will send a delegation to investigate the reasons for the renewal of the clashes and the culprits shall be brought to book.”