Sudan Decides

Jonglei: Akobo commissioner calls for cessation of retaliatory raids

January 9, 2012 (BOR) – The Commissioner of Akobo County in Jonglei state called on Monday for an end to revenge attacks between the Lou Nuer and Murle ethnic groups that have left thousands dead over the last year.

On Sunday the Murle attacked Dengjok Payam (district) of Akobo County leaving 24 people dead, in retaliation for a Luo Nuer attack on Pibor County, which the commissioner there claims killed over 3,000.

These figures have not been verified but even before the Pibor attack began on 23 December 2011, the UN had estimated that 1,000 had died in the fighting in the previous seven months.

Typically women and children are abducted in the raids and thousands of cattle stolen. As in previous raids house and buildings were also set fire to.

“We have seen the fruits of the revenge in and out all the time,” Akobo Commissioner Goi Joyol told reporters in Bor on Monday.

“This culture of stealing [cattle and children] is the one that is hindering peace. It needs change of heart from our neighbours [the Murle].”

The Akobo Commissioner had initially claimed that 60 people had died in Sunday’s attack but revised the figure to 24 when he realised that some of those feared dead had merely fled to the bush and returned the next day.

PIBOR CIVILIANS STARVING

The UN estimates that up to 100,000 civilians were displaced by the Luo Nuer offensive into Murle territory in Pibor that lasted around two weeks and only ended when thousands of extra troops were deployed to the area.

Around 6,000 armed members of the Luo-Nuer group stole nearly 90,000 cattle and kidnapped over 1,500 women and children the according to figures provided by the Pibor County Commissioner Joshua Konyi.

The director of South Sudan Red Cross in Jonglei state, David Gai, told Sudan Tribune in Bor that the response to humanitarian situation had so far been very low.

“There is no sufficient food delivered and the number of displaced people is increasing,” he said adding that “only 145 bags” of sorghum have so far being distributed.

The Red Cross official says authorities in Pibor county reported that seven people had died by Monday due to starvation.

“This is a very dangerous situation,” Gai said.

Council of Churches of South Sudan is trying to reconcile the Lou Nuer and Murle in an attempt that has fail several times. Government disarmament attempts have not been able to address the problem. There are fears of counter attacks across in Jonglei state.

On Monday, villagers from Bor County Payams bordering the capital of Jonglei are moving to the town for safety as the security situation remains uncertain. The government of South Sudan says more troops and police are coming to boost local forces here but the real protection is yet to be realised.

(ST)

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