Officials from Twic East and Duk counties of Jonglei State have reported that at least three people were killed in fighting between members of the two communities at a fishing site on Sunday.
Deng Moradong, a prominent traditional wrestler in the area, was among those killed in the fresh inter-communal fighting.
Duk County Commissioner Peter Latjor Chuol told Radio Tamazuj that a misunderstanding at the Lang fishing site in Duk Padiet Payam ignited the clashes. He pointed out that five people were also injured in the clashes.
“This incident involved some members of a section called Ayual from Twic East and Hol from Duk. The clashes started when fishing nets of Hol fishermen were burnt by men from Ayual at the site, causing the misunderstanding which led to the fight,” Latjor said. “Three people were killed and five people injured.”
The county commissioner condemned the incident and said investigations were being carried out.
“These people have peacefully coexisted at the site for years. What led to the burning of the fishing nets is to be investigated. Meanwhile, we are preparing a security force to arrest those involved in the fight. When they are arraigned in court, many details will be revealed,” he added.
For his part, Twic East County Commissioner Jacob Chol Tor also confirmed the incident and demanded the arrest of the culprits. “The cause of the problem was the burning of fishing nets by fire, which came across unknowingly, and then they started accusing themselves of starting the fire, but I think there is an underlying issue because the issue of fishing nets couldn’t lead to a fight when the people of Twic East had already moved from Lang to Chuetangany,” he said. “Three people, including Deng Moradong, were killed and three others injured from our side.”
Chol said he is in communication with his Duk counterpart and the state government so that the culprits are apprehended, adding that he had also ordered the evacuation of the injured for further treatment.
Meanwhile, Peter Deng Maluil, a Twic East youth leader, said efforts are underway to de-escalate the tensions.
“The situation is terrible. The killing of Wrestler Deng Moradong saddens people. Since yesterday, we have been engaging youth leadership of Ayual so that they don’t take the law into their own hand but to let the law takes its course because as we speak, youth are angry,” he said.