Tribal clashes in South Sudan claim 38 lives

By Parach Mach

JUBA, South Sudan

At least 38 people were killed and 42 others injured in a tribal fight in South Sudan, security officials said Wednesday.

Killings on Monday and Tuesday in the country’s remote northeast region of Cueibet appeared to be a revenge attack, after clashes between rival clans of the Dinka ethnic group in July, police said.

“It is unfortunate that 38 people were killed and 42 more were injured in tribal violence over the last few days,” said Azuma Mangar, the police commissioner in Gok state, where the violence occurred.

Mangar said that due to the ongoing civil war citizens have easy access to heavy ammunition including machine guns, which are now used during tribal clashes -- something that was not common practice in the past.

Officials added that fighting occurred over conflicts on cattle and grazing land.

More than 300 people have lost their lives since the beginning of this year in such clashes, despite government attempts to mediate between rival groups.

This July, President Salva Kiir declared a state of emergency in some parts of the country in order to forcefully disarm civilians.

More than three years of civil war has fueled tribal divisions and communal violence across the country.