South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
At least 15 people were killed and 16 others wounded on Thursday during intense inter-communal fighting in Tonj South County, Warrap State, state officials reported.
The Commissioner of Tonj South County, Ring Deng Ading, confirmed that the deadly attack in the Manyangok area involved four communities and resulted in at least 15 deaths and 16 injuries.
“Yes, this is true. It happened this morning at around 4 AM. It is three communities versus one community. So far, 15 people are confirmed dead on both sides, and 16 others are injured,” Ading told The Dawn via phone from Tonj South.
Ading revealed that the communal fighting pitted the Apuk Jurwir, Yar Ayiei, and Muok communities of Thiet, Mabior Yar, and Malual Muok against the Thony community of Manyangok Payam.
He disclosed that only sheep and goats have been reported looted, noting that the situation remains tense despite county authorities deploying servicemen to stop the fighting.
Ading also mentioned that several houses have been burned to ashes in villages including Ayigak, Atom, Ajijwel, Jor, Awunkech, Adama, Manyit, and Lingere across Manyangok Payam.
“The motive behind this conflict is cattle raiding and revenge killings. Some cattle were raided in December last year and January this year, and these communities have never stopped fighting; they continue to retaliate,” he said.
Ading stated that the governor of Warrap State, Gen. Magok Magok Deng, has dispatched 150 soldiers to help quell the ongoing violence in Tonj South. He added that the governor has already formed a committee to reconcile the communities.
Ading urged the communities of Tonj South to cease fighting and focus on agriculture, emphasizing that hunger is a common enemy that the people should unite to overcome.
“I am appealing to the national government to rescue these people, to provide assistance, and to deploy more forces. The state should also support the authorities in Tonj South County and help bring the communities together,” he said.
