The authorities in Lakes State said that relative calm has returned to the three counties of Cueibet, Rumbek North, and Rumbek Center following deadly intercommunal fighting between armed youth from the Gok and Agar communities over the weekend.
The clashes took place on Friday and Saturday when armed youth suspected criminals from Cueibet County tied up the hands of an old man from Rumbek Center County and stole his goats. The fighting left 14 people dead and 25 others injured.
Daniel Laat Kon, a civil society activist in Lakes State, told Radio Tamazuj on Monday that calm had returned but there is still fear that fighting may resume between the communities. He said road users were moving along the roads in the three counties freely.
“For the last two days, the situation has remained calm in Lakes State except that there is still fear among the communities on the ground there,” he said. “The fear is that when some of the wounded people die, then their relatives may decide to go for revenge.”
He said the wounded people on both sides are receiving medical treatment at Rumbek State Hospital, while others are being treated locally in the villages and cattle camps.
Efforts to reach Acting Information Minister William Koji for comment on the situation were unsuccessful as he did not answer his phone.