33 killed in militia attack in South Sudan

At least 33 people have been confirmed dead and more than 60 others wounded in a suspected militia attack on remote villages in South Sudan’s Jonglei State on Sunday, officials have said.

David Yau Yau rebels, in coordination with the Murle tribesmen of Pibor County, allegedly attacked Paker, Ajuong and Maar payams in the neighbouring Twich East County at dawn and shot at random before driving off several heads of cattle.

“The attack happened this morning in Payam called Maar around 9:15 hours, according to the local information. Local chiefs’ say they have seen 33 bodies,” a South Sudan Red Cross for Jonglei said.

“Exactly the 20 wounded are there and then the other information we are getting says that more than 40 other wounded are also laying on ground and need to be verified,” he told the UN-sponsored Radio Miraya.

Local sources say houses were set ablaze during the attack. Some of the places remained inaccessible due to fear the attackers hadn’t left.

“Maybe there is eventually a number of people drowned into the water especially children, woman and elderly because the attackers got [into] all payams and pushed everybody in the swampy areas,” Mr Gai said.

Twich East County Commissioner, Dau Akoi Jurkuch , said the attackers were a large force, many of whom in green military uniform. Mr Dau said the reports on the death toll were preliminary and that the number could rise.

David Yau Yau’s rebel group, essentially made up of mainly tribal loyalists from the Murle of Pibor County, has been destabilizing Jonglei State for the last two years.

President Salva Kiir granted amnesty this year to militia leaders and their forces, but Mr Yau Yau declined to accept the amnesty.