JUBA (Reuters) – An official from the South Sudan government reported that about 40 individuals, including civilians, were killed in violent clashes in the Abyei region over the weekend, with many seeking refuge in a U.N. peacekeepers’ compound. The ongoing conflict stems from a dispute over the location of an administrative boundary where substantial tax revenue is collected from cross-border trade.
The contested area of Abyei is rich in oil and is jointly administered by South Sudan and Sudan, both of which claim ownership of the region. Bulis Koch, the region’s information minister, stated, “In the attacks that took place on Feb. 2 and 3, several markets were set on fire, property looted and altogether 19 civilians got killed and 18 others were wounded.”
An additional 18 people were killed in separate attacks on Sunday, including three children and a staff member of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). The violence also resulted in the displacement of hundreds of individuals, many of whom sought refuge in the compound of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) peacekeeping force.
Koch claimed that young men from neighbouring Warrap state and a militia associated with rebel and spiritual leader Gai Machiek were involved in the attacks. Neither Warrap State’s information minister, MSF South Sudan, nor UNISFA immediately responded to requests for comment.
In late January, a series of attacks in the same area resulted in the deaths of at least 54 people, including women, children, and two U.N. peacekeepers. As a result of the ongoing fighting, more than 2,000 people were seeking shelter at UNISFA’s compound, Koch stated.
(Writing by George Obulutsa, Editing by Alexander Winning and Angus MacSwan)
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