Over 40 people detained in Rumbek East County after renewed revenge killings

JUBA – Police authorities in Rumbek East County, Lakes State, have detained over 40 people following a resurgence of violence that claimed two lives on Sunday.

The incident shattered a year of peaceful coexistence between the Thuyic section of Maleng-agok Payam and the Gony and Dhiei sections of Cuei-cok Payam.

This renewed conflict comes after government intervention successfully resolved a long-standing feud within the Athoi communities.

The previous clashes tragically took the lives of paramount chiefs Maker Mabor and Aparer Chut Dhuol in 2002 and 2018, respectively.

While the motive behind the recent killings remains unclear, authorities are working to restore calm.

Police spokesperson for Lakes State, Maj. Elijah Mabor Makuac, speaking to Sudans Post in an exclusive interview on Wednesday, assured the public that the “security situation is normal, and our forces are pursuing the perpetrators.”

Makuac said that a significant detail is the detention of over 41 close relatives of the suspects. He said that the arrest was conducted in order to coerce the relatives suspected in the killings to show up and that they will only be released when they show up.

“We are pursuing the perpetrators to be apprehended and arrested for investigation, but they are not being found. The security forces have arrested more than 41 close relatives for investigation. They shall be released when the suspected criminals are apprehended and brought to book by the security forces,” he said.

“There is nothing [untoward] and everybody is calm and normal between the two rival sections of Maleng-agok and Cuei-cok Payam of Rumbek East County. I am not informed about the chiefs that are arrested as a result of the incident, but I am aware of the process of investigation that led to the arrest of more than 41 people,” he said.

Efforts to reach Rumbek East County Commissioner Mangar Machuol Malok for comment were unsuccessful.