A village was attacked and burned in southwestern Kordofan more than a week ago, forcing South Sudanese settlers there to flee across the border into the Bahr al-Ghazal region.

Those who escaped the attack, a group of 51 people, fled into Ariath Payam of Aweil North County in Northern Bahr al-Ghazal. They brought stories of a ‘massacre’ in Kokab not far from Meiram in the second week of February.

Kokab village was the home of a minority Dinka population within the territory of the pastoralist Misseriya tribe. It lies near Meiram town in western South Kordofan State at the border with East Darfur State. Many of the residents there worked as laborers in agriculture schemes.

Villagers who fled into Ariath Payam told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday that tens of people fell victim to revenge killings by herders after the recent killing of one or more Misseriya herders in Abyei. The number of victims could not be verified.

“The attackers came from the Abyei road. From there they came to us at night and attacked us at around 10:00 p.m. saying that we are the cause of the problem and started burning houses. My husband was shepherding and from there they took his goats and cows and killed him,” one woman said.

Majok Deng, another refugee, said “I came here ten days ago. Back there are many problems. Because the baggara there – the cattle people – killed many people… The baggara do not explain the reason why they kill people.”

Ariath Payom Administrator Reech Malong Wol confirmed that the refugees reached his payam a week ago: “These people arrived on the 14^th of this month to Ariath police station.”

Food distributions will begin immediately and they will be given medical treatment, according to the state director of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission Deng Deng Kuel.

“After the arrival of the IDPs I met with all the humanitarian organizations in Northern Bahr al-Ghazal and they dispatched the committee which carried out verification and will at once distribute food,” said Kuel.

Photo: South Sudanese who fled from Kokab in South Kordofan to Ariath in South Sudan (Radio Tamazuj). 

See also: South Sudanese Flee Nomad Attackers in Sudan (Voice of America, 20 February)