Five people have been killed and six, including women and children injured, in an attack by gunmen on a nomadic group in the Hafir El Silik area of the disputed Abyei region on the border between Sudan and South Sudan on Saturday.
Belbek Kuol Deng, Sultan of the Ngok Dinka, confirmed the incident to Radio Dabanga, but denied it had the link to the clan disputes following a spate of cattle thefts since April[1]. "There is no interest in the Misseriya to attack," he says.
Reliable other sources say that the attack was carried out by the armed movement 'Titabai', which is affiliated with South Sudan, and engaged in cattle rustling.
The sources pointed out that the attack resulted in the death of five civilians, while six other were injured, including women and children under the age of two years. The injured were transferred by ambulance to the health centre in Bilal.
Residents of northern Abyei called on the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) to intervene urgently to maintain security in light of the crisis in the country.
Tensions
Relations between the Misseriya and Ngok Dinka have been fraught in the past. Relationships between the two tribes improved when they started holding regular peace conferences on conflict drivers, such as cattle raids, grazing areas, protection of crops, and access to water, and signed a peace deal[2] five years ago.
The Ngok Dinka are indigenous inhabitants of Abyei and reside there all year long whilst the Misseriya, a nomadic Arab herding tribe with members in Kordofan, Darfur, and Chad, rely on long-held agreements to move their cattle through Abyei and South Sudan in the dry season to find water and pastures for grazing.
During the civil war and disputes between Sudan and South Sudan, the Dinka Ngok sided with South Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M) whilst the Misseriya were mobilised as a proxy militia[3] by Sudan's Al Bashir regime, which supported 'Arab' herders whilst looking down on 'African' farmers.
Such ethnic discrimination and tensions over grazing[4] were also at the roots of the Darfur Genocide and similar hostilities over land[5] also exist between the Misseriya and the Nuba clans in Kordofan.
Protection
Abyei, an area at the Sudan-South Sudan border, is the traditional homeland of the Ngok Dinka, who have with strong ties with the South Sudanese Dinka tribe. Herders of the Misseriya, an 'Arab' tribe, traverse Abyei and other Sudan-South Sudan border areas with their cattle in search of water and pasture in the dry season and to trade goods. The region witnesses many cases[6] of cattle rustling, hijacks, and other robberies.
Since the secession of South Sudan from Sudan in 2011, both countries claim the oil-rich region of Abyei. In the same year, the UN Security Council decided on the establishment of UNISFA, to monitor and verify the redeployment of armed forces from Abyei. UNISFA also has a mandate to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence, to protect the area from incursions by unauthorised elements, and ensure security.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info[7]).References
- ^ since April (www.dabangasudan.org)
- ^ and signed a peace deal (www.dabangasudan.org)
- ^ mobilised as a proxy militia (www.reuters.com)
- ^ tensions over grazing (www.dabangasudan.org)
- ^ similar hostilities over land (www.dabangasudan.org)
- ^ region witnesses many cases (www.dabangasudan.org)
- ^ Syndigate.info (syndigate.info)
Newer articles:
- South Sudan: International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) welcomes ratification of Convention on Cluster Munitions - 25/05/2023 05:39
- UN conference raises less than $1 billion for climate-wracked Horn of Africa in major disappointment - 25/05/2023 02:04
- As Sudanese refugees flee horrors of war, poverty-stricken Chad is struggling to help - 25/05/2023 01:22
- 'They are suffering': Hamilton residents worry about relatives caught in deadly conflict in Sudan - 25/05/2023 00:20
- Celebrate resilience, unity and ‘Africanness’ this Africa Day – Ramaphosa - 25/05/2023 00:17
Older news items
- South Sudan to hold int’l investment conference - 24/05/2023 05:27
- US state secretary Blinken warns Sudan forces to respect truce or face sanctions - 24/05/2023 03:11
- MSF Facilities Looted, Medical Activities Impeded By Violence in Sudan [press release] - 24/05/2023 03:10
- Sudanese Still Await Relief On Day Two Of Tense Ceasefire - 24/05/2023 01:42
- Swiss Abroad: life in South Sudan - 23/05/2023 10:31
Latest news items (all categories):
- UN experts say South Sudan is close to securing a $13 billion oil-backed loan from a UAE company - 18/05/2024 11:54
- DRC, South Sudan units top Equity’s earnings in first quarter - 18/05/2024 11:49
- Innuendos and tittle tattle of Kiir's regime - 18/05/2024 11:44
- South Sudan government, rebel groups sign pact to achieve lasting peace - 18/05/2024 09:58
- إلى متى ينظر الجميع إلى الفيل و يطعنون ظله..؟ - 15/05/2024 21:51
Random articles (all categories):
- In Sudan, fighting continues and aid still does not arrive - 13/06/2023 02:57
- South Sudan says Total partners with Exxon Mobil in oil exploration - 03/06/2013 06:00
- South Sudan: Cops Arrest Killers of Ex-Police Commissioner - 01/09/2013 04:36
- Where is Panthow (Heglig)? - 18/04/2012 19:45
- In South Sudan, clean water at last - 24/09/2015 21:37
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 35906 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 21877 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 20771 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 17473 times
- With prisons full, South Sudan to introduce mobile courts to clear backlog of cases - 11/10/2012 11:29 - Read 14241 times