Juba – At least 71 people, including four soldiers, were reportedly killed in communal clashes in Rumbek, the capital of South Sudan’s Lakes State, according to a preliminary government report.
In a statement dated October 9, the Ministry of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services said the fighting began at around 4 a.m. on Friday.
“According to preliminary security reports, approximately 71 people are reported to have been killed, although the exact number of fatalities and injuries is yet to be verified,” the statement said.
The four soldiers killed included a captain and three non-commissioned officers. The ministry did not provide a breakdown of civilian casualties.
The violence followed clashes on Thursday in Nyangkot village, on the outskirts of Rumbek Central County, where at least four people were reportedly killed in fighting involving armed youths from the Nyang and Pakam communities.
The fighting later spread into Rumbek town, forcing residents to flee to nearby areas, including Ronga, Cueiadukan and Adol.
The government said it deployed joint security forces comprising the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), the National Security Service (NSS) and the South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS).
“Rumbek Town is currently under the control of Government security forces,” the statement said, adding that efforts were underway to restore normalcy and protect civilians and their property.
Four armed civilians were arrested and four firearms recovered, according to the ministry. The suspects and weapons are in SSPDF custody pending further investigation and legal action.
The government urged communities to “remain calm, exercise maximum restraint, and refrain from acts of retaliation that could further escalate tensions.”
Communal violence involving armed youths, cattle raiding, revenge killings and intercommunal disputes has repeatedly affected Lakes State.
