At least 72 people were killed in intercommunal violence in South Sudan's Warrap State on Monday, Warrap State information minister William Wol told AFP, in the latest outbreak of a years-long cycle of revenge killings, cattle raids and battles over territory in the area. The state government, in a statement dated 26 October reported by Sudans Post and Standard Zone News, put the wounded at 38 and located the attack in Akop Payam, Tonj North County.

Source: AFP via News Central TV

Wol told AFP the clashes, near the border of Warrap and Unity states, involved members of the Lou Ariik community attacking the Apuk Padoch community, and that the violence was thought to be revenge for an attack on Friday that killed 10 people, according to residents. Residents had earlier told AFP at least 20 people had been killed, and AFP noted the minister's figure of 72 could not be independently verified. The two communities were split years ago over the renaming of a local area by the government, which triggered violent clashes, AFP reported.

Source: AFP via News Central TV

The Warrap state government statement gave a different breakdown: it said the attack involved armed elements from Mayom County in neighbouring Unity State and sub-sections of Alabek Payam, and that 50 of those killed were reportedly from the attacking side while 22 were from the community that was targeted. It reported cattle raids at the Majak-kou cattle camp, the burning of markets in Athieng-puol and Rual-malith, and the destruction of several households in Akop Payam, and linked the violence to a wider cycle of retaliatory attacks, including the reported killing of eight civilians in Mading-Juer on 24 October.

Source: Warrap state government statement via Standard Zone News / Sudans Post

Caretaker Governor Ustaz Angelo Ngot Mayar's government condemned the violence. The statement, signed by Caretaker Information Minister William Wol Mayom Bol, said security forces had been directed to deploy rapidly to Akop Payam and arrange medical transfers for the wounded, that Warrap and Unity state authorities were communicating to recover the raided cattle and identify those responsible, and it appealed for calm and for humanitarian organisations to assist affected communities — particularly women, children and elderly people facing shortages of food, medicine and shelter. It noted the reported toll and circumstances had not been independently verified, and that Unity State authorities had not responded in the statement.

Source: Warrap state government statement via Standard Zone News / Sudans Post

South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011, has been plagued by intercommunal violence and extreme poverty, AFP noted, with the spread of firearms from decades of war worsening cycles of revenge attacks between communities.

Source: AFP via News Central TV