At least four people were killed and four others injured Friday evening in a fresh attack in the area of Abyei, a local official has said.
Bol Koc, the Abyei Area Information Minister, told Radio Tamazuj that the deadly attack was carried out by armed youth suspected to have come from neighboring Twic County of South Sudan’s Warrap State, saying the attack occurred in Athony village.
“Again, armed youth from Twic attacked Athony village, killing four youth from Abyei and wounding three others and one woman. The wounded were taken to Agok Hospital for treatment,” he said.
“The youth suspected to have come from Twic didn’t take cattle. They were planning to occupy Anyiel territory and Kadhiang areas, so someone saw the attackers and reported it to area youth, then Abyei area youth fought Twic youth and killed one person from them,” he added.
Minister Bol claimed that the attackers sustained several severe injuries during the clashes with the Abyei youth.
For his part, Twic County Commissioner Simon Aguek confirmed the incident and said he was still collecting enough information from security organs.
“I came to Kuajok on Thursday and received a call from security personnel on Friday that there was fresh fighting at Athony village, so I couldn’t verify what was happening,” he said.
“I was told that Abyei armed youth came up to Akec-Nhial Bridge and attacked people there, and you know very well that Athony is the main road that leads to Abyei, and many NGOs and commercial trucks use that road. I heard many people disappeared in the bushes, and security didn’t give me a full report because Brigadier General Kuel is controlling the area. He will be the one to inform me about the casualties,” he added.
Sudan and South Sudan are still disputing the oil-rich Abyei area. The two countries have yet to agree on the border mapping since South Sudan seceded from Sudan in 2011.
The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) was deployed in June 2011 to protect civilians under the imminent threat of physical violence.