At least 10 people were killed and three others wounded following a cross-border cattle raid in restive Warrap State, local officials said.
The violence erupted in the early hours of Thursday morning when armed youth, allegedly from Mayom County in Unity State, crossed into Twic County to raid livestock.
“Fighting erupted at around 1:00 am when armed criminals crossed the river into Twic cattle camps,” Twic County Commissioner John Mabior told Radio Tamazuj on Friday.
According to Mabior, the attackers—believed to be supported by accomplices from the Mayen-Jur area of Gogrial East—drove off a herd of cattle and wounded three local men. However, they were later ambushed by local youth, known as Gelweng, who were pursuing the stolen animals.
“The attackers lost 10 people as they were ambushed by local youth,” Mabior said, adding that some of the cattle were recovered. “The death toll might be higher, but we are still gathering information as the raiders are still being pursued.”
The three wounded survivors are currently receiving treatment at the Mother Teresa health center in Turalei.
Cross-border tensions
The border region between Warrap and Unity states has long been plagued by cycles of cattle lifting and revenge killings. Despite ongoing peace dialogues between the two state governments, local authorities admit that controlling mobile, armed youth remains a challenge.
Jackson Mut, the Commissioner of Mayom County in Unity State, confirmed the incident but distanced his administration from the attackers.
“These youths are not under my command,” Mut said. “They are armed criminals who assembled in Mayen-Jur. They collaborate with criminals in Warrap to attack Twic and other areas.”
Mut noted that it was difficult to verify the exact number of casualties among the raiding group because they “treat themselves locally” in the bush.
“They move through deep forests and swampy areas, making them difficult to control,” he added.
Warrap and Unity states remain among the most volatile regions in South Sudan, where competition over resources and a proliferation of small arms frequently lead to deadly communal violence.