At least 10 people have been killed in a revenge attack in Uror County, Jonglei State, according to local authorities.
The inter-communal violence between the Cie-Burluom and Chie-Kuonluom communities took place in Pathai Payam on Satruday morning.
County information director Majok Chop told Radio Tamazuj that the attack was linked to a previous incident in August.
He said that during celebrations by the Chie-Kuonluom community over the recovery of raided cattle, a woman from the Cie-Burluom community was accidentally shot dead, leading to tensions.
“So this morning, Chie-Kuonluom came and attacked Chie-Burluom at a community event in Payokyok village,” Chop said.
He reported that the fighting resulted in 10 deaths – six from one side and four from the other.
Gunfire was reportedly heard as far away as Yuai town, the county headquarters, for much of Saturday. Chop said the situation had calmed but tensions remained high, and officials were engaging with community leaders to end hostilities.
Civil society activist Ter Manyang Gatwech condemned the violence. He blamed the clashes in part on the delayed implementation of the 2018 peace agreement and urged traditional authorities to use customary laws to prevent revenge killings.
“Revenge attack is cyclic because the peace deal is not being implemented,” he said.
South Sudan has experienced recurring inter-communal violence, often involving cattle raiding and revenge attacks, despite numerous peace initiatives.