The deaths occurred from two separate incidences involving intra-communal clashes over livestock

By The City Review

At least seven people were killed, and two others injured in intra-communal clashes over livestock in Rumbek North County, Lakes State.

According to authorities, the first tragic incident, involving the Manuer and Gak on Sunday left three people dead after a failed cattle raid. Meanwhile, the second attack happened the following day, on Monday night, between the Aniin and Gak sections.

Rumbek North County Commissioner, Moses Maker Magok, reported that the incident in Amok Boma of Meen Payam occurred at around 3PM on Sunday, and was sparked by romours that some cattle had been raided by people from the Gak section. The clashes would then ensue, before the authorities moved in to restore calm, he said.

The following day, on Monday, a huge confrontation almost erupted between the Gak and Manuer sections of Pakam, but security forces, led by Brigadier General Bol Madok, arrived from Rumbek and separated the two sides.

“We took the Gak section to the side of Malek Payam of Rumbek Central County, and the Manuer section was taken to the cattle camp of Angokjok, and there has been no confrontation within Rumbek North except this morning’s (Monday) incident that is now ongoing within Rumbek Central County between Aniin and Gak sections,” Commissioner Maker told the media.

Sadly, three people died during the clashes between the Manuer and Gak sections, while four others also succumbed during fighting between the Gak and Aniin sections.

Akhol Maker, a youth representative in Rumbek North County, confirmed the clashes and said the son of a wealthy cattle farmer, Marial Muorwel Nyot, was among those killed from the Gak section.

In March, ten people were killed and thirteen others injured after armed youths from Rumbek North and Cueibet Counties clashed at a cattle camp.

Authorities said the incident in an early morning raid at Mabor cattle camp when armed youths from Rumbek North launched an attack on a camp occupied by youths from Duony Payam, Cueibet County.

The motive of the attack, the authorities said, was an attempted cattle raid, which left 33 cattle stolen.

Payam Administrator for Duony Michael Marik Alik said six armed youths from the Gok community were killed. Meanwhile, Rumbek North Commissioner, Magok, confirmed four deaths; the attack displacing women, children and the elderly.

Civil society leader, Daniel Laat Kon, condemned the attack, terming it a drawback and threat to regional stability, especially its occurrence at a time when the governor was on his peace tour of the region.

With cattle making the cut as a precious source of wealth and currency, the pressure to own more has led to various risk, including raids, revenge attacks and casualties.

Cattle theft has become the most rampant crime in Lakes State, with over 112 deaths reported last year, and around 10,000 stock stolen in the three months prior to June, according to UNMISS.

Efforts have been made to address such perennial challenges, with local governments partnering with various stakeholders, including UNMISS and NGOs, to tame violence.

Utilities

We took the Gak section to the side of Malek Payam of Rumbek Central County, and the Manuer section was taken to the cattle camp of Angokjok, and there has been no confrontation within Rumbek North except this morning’s (Monday),” said Rumbek North County Commissioner, Moses Maker Magok.