A man was shot dead in a revenge attack between the Haforiere and the Hiyala in Torit County of Eastern Equatoria State on Monday.
The incident happened when a group alleged to be from Haforiere fired shots that injured their counterpart who was looking after cattle in Hiyala. The injured youth ran to seek help from his colleagues, who shot dead the man from the attacking group.
Tension between the Hiyala and the Haforiere have raged since 2018, and continue to cause revenge attacks, occasioning killings and cattle raiding.
Local authorities say over 40 people, including women and children; have been killed in the last four years of tensions.
Several dialogues to reconcile the feuding communities have been conducted but with no success.
Hiyala Payam Paramount Chief Galileo Ohide told Radio Tamazuj that the incident happened on Monday afternoon when the youth from Haforieri stormed Hiyala village for a revenge killing.
He said the grievances between the Hiyala and the Haforiere remained unresolved and called on the government to intervene.
Eastern Equatoria State Police Commissioner Maj Gen James Monday Enoka confirmed the revenge killing, saying it resulted from cattle theft.
He said forces had been sent to investigate the matter and arrest the suspects.
“Yes, the Haforiere and the Hiyala are in a conflict over cattle. The Commissioner of Torit County went there to compile more reports but the perpetrators have not been arrested. There is a joint police and SSPDF force on ground,” he said.
Eastern Equatoria State Civil Society Chairperson Charles Onen Lokwaru condemned the revenge attack, saying it was a violation of the several dialogues held.
He called on the county authorities and partners to explore opportunities towards reconciliation and peaceful co-existence among conflicting communities.