At Least 72 Killed In Co-ordinated Cattle Raids In South Sudan

At least 72 people have been killed in a wave of cattle raids that hit Warrap State in northern South Sudan.

The attacks happened on Monday in Tonj North County, around Akop Payam, near the border between Warrap and Unity states.

State Information Minister William Wol Mayom Bol described the incident as a co-ordinated attack involving armed youths from Lou Ariik community who targeted members of the Apuk Padoch community.

According to the state government, homes were burnt, markets at Athieng-puol and Rual-malith were set ablaze, and an unspecified number of cattle were driven away from the Majak-kou cattle camp.

Official figures show 50 of those killed were from the attacking side and 22 from the affected community, while 38 others were wounded. The numbers are yet to be independently verified.

The minister said the raid was linked to a revenge cycle following a separate attack in Mading-Juer on October 24 that left eight people dead, including a young girl.

Caretaker Governor Angelo Ngot Mayar has condoled with bereaved families and ordered security forces to deploy to the area to evacuate the injured and recover stolen livestock.

Warrap State also appealed to humanitarian partners to support displaced women, children and the elderly who have been left without food, shelter and medical care.

Cattle raids and inter-communal violence remain common in the area, where livestock is a major source of wealth and dowry, and as South Sudan prepares for its first election since independence in 2011.