BOR, SOUTH SUDAN —
Seven people have been killed and dozens injured in inter-clan fighting in South Sudan's restive Jonglei state, officials said Friday.
Officials in the state's Akobo County said violent clashes pitted members of the Waat and Walgak clans against each other on Tuesday and Wednesday.
French medical charity Doctors Without Borders, which goes by its French acronym MSF, said it has treated 16 people with gunshot wounds
“We received 16 people and two of them died of internal bleeding when they arrived at the hospital. It was already too late to treat them," Raphael Gorgeu, MSF head of mission in South Sudan said.
Akobo County Commissioner Koung Rambeng said the fighting stemmed from a long-term conflict between the Waat and Walgak clans. In 2008, a clash between the two Nuer clans left 19 people dead nand several others injured.
Rambeng said the local government is doing all it can to end the conflict.
“We have deployed the SPLA on all the routes leading to the towns... also on the routes leading to the two respective communities, to deter any mobilization and revenge from any of the two subsections. We have arrested the people who are believed to have ignited the conflict,” he said.
Rambeng said he is also working to encourage dialogue between the two communities to end the conflict once and for all. State lawmakers are expected to visit the area tomorrow to bolster the commissioner’s peace initiative.
Inter-clan and inter-tribal fighting is not new in Jonglei State. Early this year, inter-clan fighting between two clans in Bor County left at least five people dead. Those deadly clashes are being addressed in a court of law.
Officials in the state's Akobo County said violent clashes pitted members of the Waat and Walgak clans against each other on Tuesday and Wednesday.
French medical charity Doctors Without Borders, which goes by its French acronym MSF, said it has treated 16 people with gunshot wounds
“We received 16 people and two of them died of internal bleeding when they arrived at the hospital. It was already too late to treat them," Raphael Gorgeu, MSF head of mission in South Sudan said.
Akobo County Commissioner Koung Rambeng said the fighting stemmed from a long-term conflict between the Waat and Walgak clans. In 2008, a clash between the two Nuer clans left 19 people dead nand several others injured.
Rambeng said the local government is doing all it can to end the conflict.
“We have deployed the SPLA on all the routes leading to the towns... also on the routes leading to the two respective communities, to deter any mobilization and revenge from any of the two subsections. We have arrested the people who are believed to have ignited the conflict,” he said.
Rambeng said he is also working to encourage dialogue between the two communities to end the conflict once and for all. State lawmakers are expected to visit the area tomorrow to bolster the commissioner’s peace initiative.
Inter-clan and inter-tribal fighting is not new in Jonglei State. Early this year, inter-clan fighting between two clans in Bor County left at least five people dead. Those deadly clashes are being addressed in a court of law.
