Clashes between armed youths from rival communities in South Sudan’s Lakes state have left at least 10 people dead and eight others wounded, local officials said Tuesday.
The violence erupted Monday in Mabor cattle camp, involving youths from the Gok community in Cueibet County and the Pakam community in neighboring Rumbek North County. Authorities said 33 head of cattle were also raided during the fighting.
Lakes State Minister of Cabinet Affairs Stephen Mathiang Deng told Radio Tamazuj that the situation had since calmed, and investigations were underway into the cause of the clashes.
Deng said initial reports indicated that armed youths from Rumbek North moved from cattle camps east of Rumbek Central County toward Gok cattle camps, claiming they were pursuing cattle allegedly stolen by Gok youths. The confrontation escalated into violence at Mabor.
“We tried to engage local youth leaders overnight to prevent the attack, but the group proceeded in the morning, leading to fighting and casualties on both sides,” Deng said.
He added that the incident occurred while state officials were returning to headquarters after accompanying the governor on a tour of Cueibet County.
Local authorities gave varying accounts of the casualties.
Michael Marik Alic, an administrator in Cueibet County’s Duony Payam, said six Gok youths were killed and eight people wounded, while 33 cattle were taken by the attackers.
Moses Maker Magok, commissioner of Rumbek North County, confirmed the attack and said four of the attackers from his county were killed during the fighting.
Daniel Laat Kon, a coordinator for the civil society group Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) in Lakes state, also confirmed the incident and said it occurred during a peace tour by the state governor.
He warned that such violence risked undermining fragile stability in the area and called for accountability.
“It is important that those responsible are brought to justice to prevent further revenge attacks,” Kon said.