'At least 19' killed in new South Sudan fighting - Africa Review

At least 19 people were killed and nearly 30 injured in renewed ethnic clashes in South Sudan, officials said Saturday.

The fighting broke out on Friday between two communities in remote villages 28 miles away from Tonj South County in Warrap state, police said.

"The clashes erupted between two communities, Apuk Juwiir and Tonj … and the death toll [is] 16 in the side of Apuk and three from the side of Tonj, 14 injured in the side of Tonj and 13 from the side of Juwiir,” Tonj South police director, Joseph Mayei Arou, said.

Mr Mayei said calm has been restored and that the attackers are being pursued.

“We hope no more deaths will happen. The area we are pursuing them is full of water and vehicles cannot enter, so they reached it and they ran into in the water,” he said.

The county commissioner, Mario Monydhieth Gor, said more clashes were likely in reprisal to the previous attacks in which scores were killed and others wounded.

“This is not something new. Our people like revenging. We are telling them to stop fighting and use peaceful ways,” Mr Gor said.

Warrap state governor, Nyandeng Malek, said investigations into the clashes were being conducted.

The mostly cattle keeping communities of South Sudan have longstanding disputes over water and grazing land.

But recent raids have been deadlier due to the presence of arms in the hands of civilians have exacerbated the situation.

At least 19 people were killed and nearly 30 injured in renewed ethnic clashes in South Sudan, officials said Saturday.

The fighting broke out on Friday between two communities in remote villages 28 miles away from Tonj South County in Warrap state, police said.

"The clashes erupted between two communities, Apuk Juwiir and Tonj … and the death toll [is] 16 in the side of Apuk and three from the side of Tonj, 14 injured in the side of Tonj and 13 from the side of Juwiir,” Tonj South police director, Joseph Mayei Arou, said.

Mr Mayei said calm has been restored and that the attackers are being pursued.

“We hope no more deaths will happen. The area we are pursuing them is full of water and vehicles cannot enter, so they reached it and they ran into in the water,” he said.

The county commissioner, Mario Monydhieth Gor, said more clashes were likely in reprisal to the previous attacks in which scores were killed and others wounded.

“This is not something new. Our people like revenging. We are telling them to stop fighting and use peaceful ways,” Mr Gor said.

Warrap state governor, Nyandeng Malek, said investigations into the clashes were being conducted.

The mostly cattle keeping communities of South Sudan have longstanding disputes over water and grazing land.

But recent raids have been deadlier due to the presence of arms in the hands of civilians have exacerbated the situation.