At least seven people have been killed and one injured in a Saturday attack on Madingthon village in Abyei by suspected Sudanese Misseriya, Abyei authorities said.
Abyei Administrative Area’s information minister Ajak Deng Mayen speaking to Radio Tamazuj today said: “They killed five people and wounded another in the area of Madingthon about three kilometers from Abyei.The attackers ran away but they were pursued by local youth and two of them were killed (the attackers).”
Bulabek Deng Kuol, the Ngok Dinka Paramount Chief, said the three members of his community who lost their lives were burning charcoal for sale when the attack happened.
“Madingthon was attacked by the Misseriya men in military uniform. They killed three charcoal workers on the spot and after that citizens from here (Abyei ) have come out to witness what was going on,” Chief Deng said. “Three people were killed on the spot and the other two were taken to hospital, maybe one of them also died.”
Abyei security adviser Kelek Kon confirmed receiving a report about yesterday’s attack.
“Well, I am currently in Anet but I received the report last night that the Misseriya attacked and killed people there,” he confirmed.
A civil society activist in Abyei town, Rou Manyiel Rou, told Radio Tamazuj on Saturday afternoon, that there were two coordinated attacks on Abyei yesterday.
He claims that youth allegedly from Twic County attacked the Wunchuei area at 9 am while the Misseriya attacked the Madingthon area.
“At around 9 am (Saturday), we were attacked from Twic in a place called Wunchuei and as we speak, there is a coordinated attack by Misseriya. Wunchuei is southeast of Agok and Madingthon attacked by Messiryia west of Abyei town,” he alleged.
According to Manyiel, people in the two areas have fled to Agok Town for safety as the local youth confront the attackers.
Several attempts to reach the Misseriya leaders for comment, were fruitless.
Mid last month, armed youth from Twic County of Warrap State attacked Anet market in the Abyei Administrative Area over contested lands between the two communities. Since then, the area has witnessed widespread insecurity with frequent attacks leading to deaths and displacement.