Over 30 killed in communal violence in Abyei

By Benjamin Takpiny

At least 36 people including a UN peacekeeper with the United Nations Interim Force for Abyei (UNISFA) have been killed in clashes that erupted on Sunday in Abyei Administrative Area.

The clashes between armed attackers from Twic County of Warrap state and Ngok Dinka of Abyei followed last week’s killing of over 40 people in Twic County.

Bulis Koch, the Minister of Information for Abyei Administrative Area, on Monday condemned the killing of people by armed militias and soldiers clad in uniforms of South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF).

“In these attacks, 36 people were killed including women and children who were burnt inside their huts, and more than 20 people are wounded,” Koc told the Dawn over phone from Abyei.

He said that the initial death toll rose from 32 to 36 after more bodies were found in the bushes.

Koc said that the attackers who came from Ajak-Kuach area of Twic County also killed one UNISFA solider and injured another.

He said that a curfew has been imposed from 6 P.M to 6 A.M to give security organs time to provide more protection to the civil population and identify those who might want to carry out more attacks.

 “The government of Abyei Special Administrative Area condemns in the strongest terms possible this heinous attack on unarmed civilians,” Koc said.

The latest revenge attack comes after last week’s clashes in Ayuok area of Twic County between the two sides, that left civilians killed including soldiers.

Lawmakers representing Twic County in the national parliament recently condemned the killing of civilians in their area by armed youth from Abyei Administrative Area.

The armed Abyei youth last week attacked a military barracks in Ayuok area in Twic County of Warrap state.