At least 12 people have been killed in clashes between herders along the Yei-Juba road of Central Equatoria and elsewhere in the state on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Juba County Commissioner Stephen Wani Michael.

Wani told Radio Tamazuj this afternoon that the fighting initially erupted in Lainya County between herders from Jonglei State and Mundari cattle keepers.

The fight continued until it reached near Juba on Wednesday morning, according to the official. He revealed that the pastoralists were using guns, which worsened the security situation in the area.

Among the dead, he disclosed that about four people were confirmed killed along the Juba-Yei road clashes and that five others were killed where the fighting broke out in neighbouring Lainya County.

“Actually, the total number of people killed during the incident were 11, but there was a soldier coming from Wonduruba to Juba to collect his salary, so he got killed on the same day, therefore the number increased to 12 dead,” he said.  

“The root cause of the fighting is unknown up to now. We were just informed that there was a fight between herders. The problem started in the bush, that’s why nobody knew what happened exactly” he added.

The top county official added that the government needs a clear policy for how to manage tensions between herders. However, Wani said the security situation has returned to normal after police forces were sent to the area.

The commissioner blamed the proliferation of arms in the hands of pastoralists. “The security situation is now calm, vehicles are now moving freely without any problem,” he said.

The Juba county commissioner also called on the relevant authorities to carry out a disarmament campaign for all pastoralists across South Sudan.