At least four people have been killed and three others injured in a fresh attack by armed youths in Twic East County in Jonglei State, local officials said.
The attack took place early on Friday in Wernyol, the administrative headquarters of Lith Payam, according to Twic East County Commissioner James Magok Mabiei.
Commissioner Magok told Radio Tamazuj that youths from neighbouring Duk County attacked the town at about 5 am.
“Youth from Duk County attacked Wernyol town, killing four people. Three others were injured. Several people were displaced and others remain missing,” he said.
He said the attackers were pushed out of the town at about 8 am, but tensions remain high amid reports that they were mobilising to return.
“We heard these people are mobilising to come back. We are on alert,” he said.
Duk County Commissioner John Chatim Ruei condemned the attack and said his administration was monitoring the border with Twic East.
“As a county government, we condemn the attack and are on maximum alert to monitor our borders,” he said.
He said security forces would intercept any youths attempting to carry out another attack.
Civil society activist Bol Deng Bol, head of the National Civil Society Coalition, blamed what he described as a lack of sustained government action for the renewed violence.
He called for grassroots dialogue involving the communities and youths involved in the fighting.
Bol also questioned the effectiveness of a recently signed agreement between the communities, saying it had been signed under pressure and did not adequately involve those directly involved in the violence.
He said there had also been insufficient follow-up by the government to ensure the agreement is implemented.
The activist said civilians continue to die in recurring clashes, with previous efforts to end the violence failing to break the cycle of attacks.
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