South Sudan Violence Leaves 115 Dead

By Simon Deng

Over two weeks of violence in South Sudan’s Pibor Administrative Area has claimed the lives of 115 people, and area official said.

The violence in Gumuruk about 20 miles from Pibor Administrative Headquarters, has displaced thousands amid destruction and burning of properties and homes, Joshua Konyi, the area chief administrator said by phone.

“About 115 people have died during the weeks of violence in Pibor,” Konyi said.

 “A lot of destruction have been done, people are displaced, the whole area is completely burnt,” he said.

Intercommunal violence has been a common phenomena in the region with armed groups from the Murle, Dinka Bor and Lou Nuer usually picking up arms to fight each other.

This latest one has left “heightened tension” in the region.

“Calm has returned after the violence but hunger is threatening following the destruction of relief food storage facility,”  Konyi said.

“We are in the process of intervening to stop such violence from happening and we hope in the nearest future, such things will not happen. We need to exert more efforts to forge lasting peace between Pibor and Jonglei,” he said.