49 Killed, 33 Injured In Cattle Raid Attack In South Sudan

At least 49 people have been killed and 33 others injured after armed cattle raiders attacked a community of herders in Warrap State, South Sudan.

The incident was confirmed on Friday by William Wol Mayom Bol, Information Minister of Warrap State.

Bol said the attackers, including some cattle raiders from neighbouring Unity State, invaded a cattle camp in Tonj North County at about 5 a.m. local time on Thursday.

He described the incident as “a brutal attack,” blaming the proliferation of firearms among civilians for contributing to the escalation of inter-communal violence in the country.

According to the minister, competition among herders over limited grazing land and water for livestock remained a major trigger of recurring clashes between communities.

Bol expressed condolences to the families of those killed and urged the affected communities to exercise restraint while authorities in the two states worked jointly to identify and prosecute those responsible.

However, Nyakenya Johannes, Information Minister of Unity State, said the attackers were not all from Unity State.

Johannes said authorities were nonetheless working to strengthen peaceful coexistence among communities in the two neighbouring states.

The latest violence adds to a series of deadly clashes linked to cattle raids, disputes over grazing areas and competition for water in parts of South Sudan.

South Sudan is expected to hold a presidential election in December, which would be the country’s first since it gained independence from Sudan in 2011.