The state government's failure to address unsolved disputes between different communities has aggravated the recent deadly inter-communal clashes between the Rup and Pakam clans in Malek County of Western Lakes state, a top lawmaker said.

Mariik Nanga Mariik, the speaker of Western Lakes state legislative assembly, told Radio Tamazuj on Monday that when the current government failed to implement previous agreements signed by the feuding communities, members of the two communities decided to take the law into their hands.

“I cannot blame Matur Chut as the state governor due to his health conditions because he has not been in the state for long times since he was appointed. But I blame his cabinet and other stakeholders for failing to implement the agreed principles by both clans, and I think it has resulted into such retaliatory actions from both side,” he said.

The parliamentary speaker said the state government should implement payment of blood compensation to families of those who lost their lives between the Rup and Pakam communities.

Mariik revealed that there had been rumors about renewed fighting between the two communities but the entire state cabinet and the newly constituted peace committee were not ready to implement the peace process between the two clans.

The clashes between rival factions of the Rup and Pakam clans broke out in Malek County last week. Nearly 173 people were killed from both sides and more than 200 sustained injures.

Western Lakes governor could not immediately be reached for comment.