![A man looks after cattle in Lakes state [Photo by unknown]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/NuerCattle.jpg?resize=850%2C428&quality=89&ssl=1)
The renewed violence erupted in the Lou Ariik community of Alabek Payam in Tonj North County; Warrap state’s information minister William Wol Mayom told Sudans Post on Sunday.
“The conflict erupted within the Lou Ariik community of Alabek Payam and 20 people are reported to have been killed and 38 people are wounded,” Mayom said. “We tried with local authorities to de-escalate the incident.”
The clashes were triggered by revenge killings within the Lou Ariik community, Mayom said. The community has a history of conflict, with previous incidents of violence often fueled by cattle raids and long-standing grievances.
Local authorities have apprehended three suspects who were trying to smuggle ammunition to the area, he added.
Similar communal fighting involving elements of the Lou Ariik community erupted in the same area last month, resulting in the death of 21 people, Mayom said.
“The situation is normal, but tension is still there,” he added.
The ongoing intercommunal violence underscores the persistent security challenges facing Warrap state and other parts of South Sudan.
The country has been plagued by conflict since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, with violence often erupting along ethnic lines.
The government has struggled to maintain peace and security, particularly in rural areas where traditional conflicts and disputes are more common.
Efforts to address the root causes of violence, such as poverty, inequality, and lack of governance, have been hampered by the country’s ongoing political instability.
