By CNN Staff
updated 2:38 PM EST, Thu December 20, 2012
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- A decision to switch a local government headquarters stirs anger
- Several thousands fled to safety at a U.N. base
- South Sudan is the world's newest country
(CNN) -- A town engulfed by fighting in South Sudan remained tense Thursday as peacekeepers and police deployed patrols and "a significant number" of people who had fled to safety stayed at a U.N. base, officials said.
The discord erupted in Wau, the capital of Western Bahr el-Ghazal state in the newly independent country. The violence reflects the growing pains of the new nation, which became independent from Sudan last year.
The unrest started last week after a decision to switch the seat of the local government headquarters from Wau to nearby Bagarre stirred anger, government spokesman Barnaba Marial Benjamin told reporters in the national capital, Juba, on Thursday.
Security forces killed 10 people amid rioting. Demonstrators attacked a bank and others businesses Saturday and Sunday, he said.
Relatives of those killed abducted 28 farmers thought to be aligned with the state government, Benjamin said. The discovery of the bodies of six of the farmers spurred more violence Wednesday.
There was no official word on the number of people killed Wednesday. It is believed at least two people died in the violence, but some news outlets reported higher tolls.
Peacekeepers with the U.N. Mission in South Sudan saw fires and a few hundred young people carrying sticks, spears and machetes, U.N. officials said. The mission deployed peacekeepers and armored personnel carriers to secure Wau's airport and patrol in and around the city.
About 5,000 people, mostly women and children, escaped the fighting and sought protection at a local base of the U.N. mission in Wau, officials said.
"Earlier today, many of those who sought U.N. protection and stayed overnight left the base to inspect their homes -- a significant number of civilians, mainly women, children and the elderly, remain in the U.N. base and continue to be protected," said U.N. spokesman Eduardo Del Buey at U.N. headquarters in New York.
"The U.N. mission continues to safeguard the airport and has conducted patrols to assess the situation in the city and affected outlying settlements," Del Buey told journalists. "The mission is also redeploying additional peacekeepers to Wau in order to assist in the protection of civilians."
Del Buey said the U.N. Mission in South Sudan is urging authorities and community leaders to "exercise restraint and engage in peaceful dialogue in order to prevent a further deterioration of the fragile situation."
Peacekeepers are working closely with South Sudan -- which has sent more police to Wau and is investigating the violence, officials said.
South Sudan is the world's newest country. It became independent six years after the signing of a peace deal that ended the war between northern and southern Sudan.
Journalist Jared Ferrie and CNN's Joe Sterling contributed to this report
Newer articles:
- South Sudan forces say they shot down UN helicopter - CNN International - 21/12/2012 15:29
- South Sudan denies shooting down UN helicopter, blames rebels - Reuters - 21/12/2012 13:06
- South Sudan army 'shoots down UN helicopter' - BBC News - 21/12/2012 12:47
- UN Helicopter In South Sudan Shot Down - Huffington Post - 21/12/2012 12:42
- Thousands seek UN shelter after deadly South Sudan riots - Daily Monitor - 21/12/2012 02:24
Older news items
- Sudan and South Sudan in 2013: Rise or fall together - CNN (blog) - 20/12/2012 19:27
- South Sudan: Heed Global Call to End Death Penalty - Human Rights Watch - 20/12/2012 16:34
- In South Sudan, a town simmers amid unrest - CNN - 20/12/2012 14:40
- Sudan's war-torn South Kordofan to be divided: VP - The Australian - 20/12/2012 13:37
- CBK enters talks with Sudan over currency exchange - Business Daily - 20/12/2012 13:36
Latest news items (all categories):
- Hope for Christmas gift as South Sudan talks return to Nairobi - 05/12/2024 10:26
- Chinese medical team brings relief to South Sudan patients - 05/12/2024 10:18
- Sudanese bishop speaks about being brutalized by soldiers - 05/12/2024 10:08
- President Biden: Absent Principles - No Honoring Words - Broken Promises - 05/12/2024 09:55
- South Sudan’s ‘Game Of Thrones’ Continues – Analysis - 01/12/2024 17:47
Random articles (all categories):
- Kiir says politicians ignited South Sudan inter-tribal clashes - 13/04/2009 19:01
- South Sudan: 'White Army' marches toward contested state capital (+video) - 28/12/2013 20:31
- South Sudan dialogue body proposes to re-establish colonial three provinces - 14/11/2018 00:05
- 'GIS travel ban' escalates tensions between Sudan govt’s military and civilian components - 14/10/2021 13:14
- To Prevent Another Civil War South Sudan Must Create a New, Unique Political System - 09/02/2021 20:03
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 58408 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 22215 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 21357 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 18882 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 17992 times