24 killed in South Sudan clashes - Africa Review

At least 24 have been killed and several others were missing following a clash between two feuding communities in South Sudan, officials said Thursday.

The clash took place in Lakes State, where sectional youths of Chueibet County engaged in armed confrontation with those of neighbouring Rumbek Central County, the state governor Chol Tong Mayai said.

He said the cause of the fighting was not established yet, but that the situation was still "not normal" in the state capital, Rumbek.

“It seems that our people don’t want to be in peace. We have been trying to stop the fighting. They went ahead to shoot themselves immediately,” Mr Mayai said, adding that he would order a forcible disarmament in the state.

“We need the arms to be surrendered. It will be the duty of the government to protect the civilian property from any other cattle raiders. The cattle raiders who cross other states, you are also being warned that we will not tolerate this,” he said.

The communities in Chueibet and Rumbek Central have previously been engaged in deadly cattle raids.