Manyang Mayom
23 April 2011
Rumbek — Fighting between communities in Rumbek East County on Friday left 10 dead and 22 with serious injuries according to Lakes state member of parliament Kedit Madol Kedit. The local MP said that the clashes were between the Thuyic and Gong ethnic groups.
The wounded from the clashes, which effected Malek-Agok and Pacong payams [districts] had been admitted to Rumbek hospital, Madol said.
In response the unrest the Lakes state government has deployed a large joint force of the South Sudan army – Sudan People Liberation Army (SPLA) – and South Sudan Police Services (SSPS) to bring the area back under control.
Speaking to the press inside the battle field zone in Pacong district Madol who is the chairman of Security and Public Order in Lakes state Assembly said that fighting between the communities was heavy and had required a large military response.
The local MP said that on Friday four people were killed and three people were wounded from the Thuyic ethnic group. On the same day one person was killed and three people were wounded from the Gong tribe.
On Saturday he reported that three Thuyic people were killed and one person from Gong side was killed. Also on Saturday “ten people were wounded from Gong side and 3 people were wounded on side of Thuyic”, he said.
Madol said that some of the bullets had been identified by South Sudan’s military intelligence as from being from the Khartoum government and had been sold to civilians. South Sudan is due to become independent in July and frequently accuses Khartoum of interfering in the region’s affairs. Khartoum denies such allegations.
Lakes state’s governor Chol Tong Mayay and Lakes state minister of Local Government and Law reinforce Agent Mabor Mayen Wol, plus Rumbek East County commissioner David Marial Gumke including Lakes state commissioner of Police Saed Abdulatif Chawuol Lom held an emergency meeting to discuss the clashes o Saturday. The outcome of their meeting has not been disclosed to media.
AllAfrica – All the Time
Original post:
Ten Killed in Rumbek Clashes