![South Sudan map featuring Unity state map [Photo via Wikipedia]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Unity-state.jpg?resize=778%2C551&ssl=1)
Speaking to Sudans Post on Thursday, Unity State police spokesman Capt. John Malith said the fighting between Chieduop and Chiebakam sections of Bul community begun on Monday when members of the two rival youth met at a local Market in Wangkei.
“The two armed youth groups are from Wangkei within Mayom County and exchanged gunfire during the time they meet at payam headquarters. They started shooting themselves and as a result eight people were confirmed dead from both sides.
Malith said that no one is injured apart from those who died and said the local government authorities have deployed a force to prevent more fighting, revealing that the incident begun on Monday at around 9:00AM local time.
“There is no one injured as a result apart from those who died. We have now started deploying the security police to overcome the situation in the areas after the incident occurred on Monday,” Malith said.
“The initial incident transpired around 9:00AM in the morning, leading to the loss of eight men’s life. The first groups which is Chieduop recorded three people dead on their side, while the second group of Chiebakam recorded five people dead on their side,” he added.
The police officer further told Sudans Post that no one has been arrested and that authorities are still conducting manhunt to locate members of the rival groups so that legal actions are taken in order to prevent future conflicts.
“There is no anyone who has been arrested since Monday and up to now but the police in Mayom county are looking for members of the two groups who fight, and this is in order to bring justice and prevent such incidences in the future,” he said.
LOCAL ACTIVIST REACTS
When contacted by Sudans Post about the insecurity in Unity State, Chairperson of Civil Society Network in Unity State Thijin Yian extended his condolences to the families of the victims, condemned the incidence, and called on the transitional government to deploy unified forces to protect citizens.
“We extend our condolences to the relatives who have lost their loved ones,” he told Sudans Post in Bentiu. “We urge the national government to deploy unified forces to hotspots areas like Mayom that recorded 5 cases of revenge killings since the beginning of this year.”
Mayom is one of many areas in Unity State grappling with insecurity. The incidents are frequently traced back to armed youth fighting each other.
