At least 13 people, including a woman, were killed and seven others injured in clashes between rival clans on Sunday in Ulang County, Upper Nile State, local officials said.
Ulang, located in eastern Upper Nile, has previously experienced violence between local youth and the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF). However, the area had been relatively calm following an army deployment.
Brig. Gen. Nhial Batoang, Ulang County commissioner, told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday that the fighting broke out between the Cie-Rom and Cie-Manbathni clans of the Cie-Lang community in Doma Payam.
“Cie-Rom attacked Cie-Manbathni at around 5 a.m. on Sunday. Thirteen people, including a woman, were killed. The situation has since calmed after community leaders intervened,” Batoang said.
When asked about the cause of the clashes, he cited longstanding unresolved disputes, leading to retaliatory attacks.
“A week earlier, Cie-Rom took cattle from Cie-Manbathni. The conflict began after two individuals fought,” he explained.
He added that authorities are working to prevent further violence by deploying security forces but face challenges due to limited resources and widespread arms among local youth.
“Traditional leaders must play a bigger role in resolving disputes. We are promoting peace dialogue, but police and army presence is needed. Access is difficult due to the rainy season,” Batoang said.
Separately, the commissioner said gunmen who ambushed him last week while traveling to Nasir County were identified as Ulang residents who had crossed from the Ethiopian border. Ethiopian border guards were notified, he added.
“They are criminal groups who came from the Ethiopian border. They are South Sudanese rom Ulang who fled recent violence. They ambushed me but have not been arrested,” he said.
Batoang said the area is now relatively stable, allowing residents to return home and prepare for farming, despite low rainfall this year.
Meanwhile, Lony Biel, a member of Upper Nile State’s legislative assembly representing Ulang, condemned the inter-clan violence, calling it a “tragic loss of innocent lives.”
He said lawmakers are working with authorities to address recurring clashes.
“The conflict between Cie-Rom and Cie-Manbathni keeps happening, and innocent lives are lost. Revenge killings are worsening the situation,” Biel said.
“We condemn the killings. The state government must support Commissioner Batoang to improve security in Ulang,” he added.