Authorities in the disputed Abyei region between Sudan and South Sudan say more than 40 people were killed in attacks on three villages on Wednesday.
The attacks were allegedly launched by gunmen from the Sudanese Misseriya community.
Abyei Administrative Area’s security adviser Keilek Kon told Radio Tamazuj today that 42 people were killed and thousands of cattle stolen in the Noong, Leu, and Amiet villages.
“In the Leu village attack at 6 am, five people were killed, one person injured and more than 1,913 cattle raided. But about 200 cattle were recovered from the attackers,” Kon said.
“At about 10 am, the Misseriya gunmen attacked the Noong village and killed 10 people and the same gunmen attacked Amiet Market killing 27 people and wounding 26 others,” he added.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Abyei Area Administration said the attacks have displaced thousands of people.
“The Abyei Area Administration condemns this barbaric attack in the strongest terms possible and calls upon UNISFA to live up to its mandate and render effective protection to the civilians,” the statement read in part.
Several attempts to reach the Misseriya community leaders to comment were futile.