Suspected Misseriya gunmen allegedly attacked two villages in the contested area of Abyei between Sudan and South Sudan on Sunday and Monday killing at least seven people.

Alal County’s Executive Director Deng Ali told Radio Tamazuj that Mayom and Nyiel villages in Alal County were attacked by Sudanese militia from the Misseriya tribe leaving seven people dead and several others wounded.

Ali alleged that 12 people from the Misseriya tribe were also killed during the clashes. Radio Tamazuj could not reach Misseriya tribal leaders to comment on the claims.

He added the assailants wanted to raid cattle in those areas. The county official pointed out that the attacker took cattle but some of them were recovered.