32 killed in ethnic violence in South Sudan

Abyei: Thirty-two people have been killed in ethnic clashes in South Sudan. The Misseriya tribe members, with help from the local rebel group, perpetrated these killings. The attack took place on Wednesday morning, and sources have claimed that land dispute is likely the cause for this attack.

South Sudan became an independent country in 2011 and the Sudanese government is consistently making efforts to destabilise it. The rebel groups near the South Sudan border were consistently supported under the leadership of former Sudanese Dictator Omar Al Bashir. The United Nations even deployed UN Interim Security Force in the border regions of Sudan and South Sudan to stop the violence carried out by the Sudan-supporting rebels.

Over the last few years, although there is a reduction in ethnic violence in the border areas, it has not stopped completely. Abyei being an oil-rich region, there is a dispute between the two countries over the control of this region. This dispute reflects at the local level as the Sudan supporter Misseriya tribe consistently targets other tribes in the region.

The Misseriya tribe, with the help of local rebels, carried out a major attack on village Kolom, in South Sudan. The local Dinka Tribe inhabits Kolom. This tribe was targeted and 32 people, including women and children, were killed. More than 20 houses were torched, and local agencies have informed that 25 people were injured.

The UN Interim Security Force has confirmed the incident and expressed fear that the ethnic violence will flareup once again after this incident.