One person was wounded when armed youth from South Sudan’s Eastern Lakes State clashed with their counterparts from Western Lakes State, an official said Thursday.
Eastern Lakes State information minister, Simon Tueny Mabor said attempts by armed Gelwong youth from the Pakam community to raid cattle from neighbouring counties were controlled by security forces.
He confirmed that one person from the attackers was wounded in the clash last week.
“The armed youth of Pakam made an attempt to raid cattle in Pagarau of Eastern Lakes State and they came here well-armed. So our forces were sent to the cattle camps of Pakam to reduce the tension there,” he said.
Mabor appealed to the armed youth to immediately cease cattle rustling and remain peaceful. The raiders, according to the minister, did not take away any cattle.
Meanwhile, Mabor said a cattle theft exchange business is ongoing between the armed youth from Western and Eastern Lakes States.
“Armed youth of Eastern Lakes steal some cows here and take them to Western Lakes State for exchange and the armed youth from Pakam in Western Lakes State also do the same. They take cows and bring them to Eastern Lakes State for exchange,” said the minister.
“This is the type of cattle theft taking place,” he added.
The minister, however, said the situation is calm after authorities from both states met to discuss mechanisms of reducing border tension.