Authorities in Lakes State have said that calm has returned to Rumbek East County after security forces were deployed to contain sectional clashes in the area.

Renewed inter-communal clashes between the Gony and Thuyic over the weekend left 23 people dead and 20 wounded. The fighting happened in the Manyang-rel cattle camp of Rumbek East County on Saturday.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj Monday, the caretaker state minister for information and communication, William Kocji Kerjok, confirmed that calm has returned in Rumbek East County following a heavy deployment of security forces to contain the violence.

“The situation has now been contained. One of the ring leaders identified as Malany Manyuon Gueng who buys and sells arms to civilians has been arrested and will be taken to court for trials to answer the charges,” Kocji said. I am not aware of other people arrested in connection with the clashes apart from this ring leader.”

"We want people to remain calm and to respect resolutions of community peace dialogue signed by chiefs. The government does not want anyone to go to any cattle camp without being directed,” he added.

Minister Kerjok said after the fighting ended on Saturday, the government deployed forces along the road to Rumbek East County to prevent any further clashes and to restore calm.

“In the morning of Monday, the armed Youth on both sides again tried to engage in another deadly clash but were deterred by the security forces that were deployed in Cuei-cok Payam,” Kocji said. “So there is no one killed or wounded. When they attempted to engage in fighting, the forces deployed rushed in and deterred the attackers.” 

Kocji said that the Lakes State governor, Makur Kulang, on Monday morning changed the peaceful and voluntarily disarmament policy into forceful disarmament.

“This morning the governor of Lakes State has changed the policy of peaceful disarmament and declared forceful disarmament policy of civilians in Lakes State. Now our security forces are going to carry out forceful disarmament in those communities that are engaged in confrontation,” he said. 

The Lakes State police commissioner, Major General Madut Ngor, said security forces have been deployed since Sunday and appealed to the national government to disarm the civil population in the state. 

"We have tried to dialogue with these communities of Lakes State but they could not listen to us to stop fighting, revenge killing, and raiding of cattle. Now the only solution is the disarmament of guns from their hands," Gen. Ngor said.

The Paramount chief of Cueigakteng Payam, Sultan Gor Makuac Kerthith, said the situation has calmed down since fighting broke out between Gony, Dhiei, and Thuyic and their allies in Manyang-rel cattle camp.

Sultan Makuac said seven of his Gony and Dhiei which were detained by the security forces while pursuing their rivals up to Yak villages were released and five of their rifles were confiscated by the security forces on Saturday.

“Those 7 armed youths who were detained while pursuing their enemies belong to my section of Dhiei of Gony. Among those seven people, five were having guns while two others were carrying no arms. They have been released and brought to Cueigakteng Payam by security forces on Sunday,” said Sultan Makuac.

Makuac said there was another attack on Monday morning in Cuei-gakteng Payam but there were no casualties.