Juba. At least 23 people have been killed and 17 injured in renewed communal clashes between armed youths from the Twic community of Warrap state and the Ngok Dinka in the disputed Abyei special administrative region near South Sudan. United Nations officials confirmed this on Monday. The United Nations Interim Security Force in Abyei (UNISFA) said that over the weekend armed youths from the Twic community of Warrap state attacked areas of the Abyei Special Administrative Region.
“Armed attackers attacked civilians in the eastern region of Malual Aleu, Banten, Awolnhom, Abathok, Majbong, Awal and Rumamire on 3 and 4 February, using heavy weapons such as rockets, grenades and mortars,” UNISFA said. ” It is noteworthy that for the first time there was a clash between the two communities in the Abyei administrative region on 27 to 28 January, in which 54 people including two UN peacekeepers were killed. UNISFA said fighting in the southern part of Abyei has resulted in several civilian deaths, several injured, and several abducted.
There has been burning of villages and theft of cattle. Bullis Koch Aguar Ajit, Minister of Information for the Abyei administrative region, claimed that armed youths from the Twic, supported by Nuer spiritual leader Guy Machek and his supporters, attacked various villages in the area. “People were killed, markets and property were set on fire and livestock was looted,” he said. UNISFA said it had intensified ground and air patrols to prevent further violence and protect civilians. “UNISFA peacekeepers are currently sheltering and providing basic assistance to more than 2,000 displaced people in their bases, including hundreds of children, pregnant women, elderly people and people with disabilities,” the statement said.
UNISFA strongly condemned the ongoing violence, saying it was exacerbating inter-communal tensions and threatening peace. “The Mission expresses its sincere condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives and reminds that the targeting of peacekeepers may constitute a war crime under international law,” the statement said. UNISFA called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, respect for international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians. “UNISFA calls on all stakeholders to cooperate in holding perpetrators accountable and ensuring that peace is restored to Abyei,” the statement said.
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