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WANGKAI - 15 Oct 2012

Intervention after clashes in Unity state

At least two civilians were wounded and two others killed in clashes between cattle herders in Rubkona and Mayom counties of Unity state of South Sudan. The fighting at the end of last week in the north-western parts of the state prompted authorities to intervene.

Two commissioners met Saturday in Wangkai Payam in Mayom to try to calm the situation. The Rubkona county leader William Gatjang Gieng and the Mayom county leader Martin Machot Deng agreed to establish recognized youth leaders in the cattle camps in order to facilitate direct communication with the government.

“We don’t want to rewind the same cassette of Jonglei,” said William Gatjang, referring to the state that has seen the most bloodshed in the last year. “What happened that some people were disarmed and others were not disarmed. So we advise that when disarmament happens it should happen at one time: in Rubkona, in Mayom, and in Koch,” he told Radio Tamazuj.

A Leek Nuer spiritual leader, Kutyi Mayiel, addressed youth during the same event. He called on them to stand together with the government and advised the youth of Mayom and Rubkona not to fight each other. Mayiel, who stays at Gulgula village in Rubkona County, is thought to have influence in the cattle camps and said to be possessed by the spirit Jar.

According to the Rubkona commissioner Willam Gatjang, the government plans to hold rallies with civilians in various locations including in Nhialdiu and the Tuarkel cattle camp. The ‘rallies’ would allow citizens to express their views and aspirations to the government in regard to desired services, he said. Such rallies may also be extended to other counties Guit and Koch.

 “We need to show our people that we are one government, and that they are one people under one government, so that they don’t develop hatred among themselves,” said the official.

Photo by Radio Tamazuj; More photos of this event here.