Four persons were killed and one injured in Padiek County of Bieh State following a dowry payment row between two families on Tuesday, a lawmaker said.
The deadly fighting involved members of the Cie-Pajok and Cie-Bur clans of Padiek County in the greater Uror area.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday, Mamur Gatluak, a lawmaker representing Padiek constituency in the state legislative assembly said clashes started on Tuesday and resumed Wednesday morning.
“Fighting started after a misunderstanding when six men from Cie-Bur went to Cie-Pajok to claim two of their cows as part of dowry,” Gatluak explained.
“Two men from Cie-Bur were killed on Tuesday. The following morning, Cie-Bur retaliated, killing two people from Cie-Pajok and another person was seriously injured,” he added.
The lawmaker, however, pointed out that relative calm has returned to the area since Wednesday after security forces were deployed.
Over 65% of the population in South Sudan relies on livestock for their survival. Cattle are used not only for milk and meat, but to pay dowry to the bride’s family before a marriage in many parts of the country.