Fresh clashes erupted on Saturday between youths of the two tribes of Misseriya and Ngok Dinka at Maker village about 17 kilometres from Abyei town, with more reports of fighting on Monday.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Sunday, the head of the Abyei Area Administration Mario Kuol Monyluak stated that militias from the Misseriya tribe attacked Maker area on Saturday morning while local citizens were going about their daily routines.

He said the assailants were on white land cruisers mounted with heavy guns. The attack on the village came from both the northern and western sides, he added. At least 14 people from Ngok Dinka were wounded and taken to a hospital where one later died.

For their part, the Misseriya tribe announced that about eight people from their side were killed and dozens more wounded in clashes in north Abyei area. They accused the Ngok Dinka of attacking them. Their wounded were taken to Muglad hospital for treatment, according to a source.

More fighting broke out on Monday, according to Abadi Yahia Kabashi, a Misseriya leader in northern Abyei. He said there was fighting in northeast of Abyei today at a place called N’gok, which he identified as an ‘SPLA camp’.

Sultan Balback Deng Kual, a leader on the side of the Dinka, likewise confirmed fighting in northern Abyei, saying that northern militia tried to attack Dungop area, about 12 kilometres northeast of Abyei town. There were two people from the Dinka Ngok wounded in the attack, he said, describing their wounds as light.

Although the two sources today referred to the location of the clash by different names, it is likely they were referring to the same event. UNISFA, the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei, could not be reached for comment on the incidents. 

File photo: A herd of cattle in Abyei town, February 2013 (Radio Tamazuj)

Update: The medical director at the Abyei Hospital confirms that two wounded were received on Monday and 11 on Saturday, one of whom died before reaching the hospital.