At least 42 people have been killed in new ethnic clashes near South Sudan
At least 42 people have been killed, including a United Nations peacekeeper, after clashes broke out in Abyei near South Sudan. The fighting has occurred between armed youths of the Twic community of neighboring Warrap state and Ngok Dinka of Abyei state.
Rou Manyiel Rou, the Chief Administrative Officer of Abyei State has confirmed the news and said that the attacks in the areas of Nyinkuac, Majbong, and Khadian carried out by armed youths from the Twic community in collaboration with the youths of the Nuer community loyal to their leader spiritual Gai Machiek has also caused 35 people to be injured. The officer has also quoted President Salva Kii's recent remarks about the fighting in the area and said that these brutal attacks are institutionally coordinated. We strongly condemn the attempt by the youth of the Twic community and their armed allies to defy the recently issued presidential order to end the conflict between the Ngok Dinka and the people of the Twic community. Abyei region President Kiir's order issued on January 18 required the security forces to expel from Warrap state the spiritual leader of the Nuer community, Gai Machiek and young people loyal to him as part of efforts to resolve the conflict between the Ngok Dinka and Twic communities. The order also asked the security forces to summon and arrest politicians of all the rival communities who are seen inciting violence between the two communities. Manyiel called for the immediate deployment of neutral security forces to the border between Twic County and the Administrative Area. of Abyei.
