Heavy clashes between armed youths from the Nyang and Pakam communities have spread to Rumbek town, the capital of Lakes State, leaving an unconfirmed number of people dead and others wounded, local officials said on Friday.
The fighting initially broke out on Thursday in Nyangkot village, on the outskirts of Rumbek Central County, where four people were killed. The violence escalated at about 5 a.m. on Friday, with armed youths from the two communities engaging in heavy clashes in Rumbek town.
The fighting has affected residential neighbourhoods across the town, prompting residents and families to flee to nearby villages, including Ronga, Cueiadukan and Adol, in search of safety.
Videos reviewed by Radio Tamazuj show civilians fleeing as clashes continue in Rumbek town.
Lieutenant Colonel Elijah Mabor Makuac, the Lakes State police spokesperson, told Radio Tamazuj on Friday that government security forces had been deployed in Rumbek to contain the violence and disarm the armed youths.
He said the fighting began in Nyangkot village on Thursday, where four people were killed, before spreading to the state capital on Friday morning.
Makuac said the number of people killed and wounded in the latest clashes had not yet been established as fighting continued in several residential areas of Rumbek.
He added that wounded people were being taken to Rumbek State Hospital for treatment, while residents fleeing the town had sought refuge in surrounding villages.
Daniel Laat Kon, the Lakes State coordinator for the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) and chairperson of the Civil Society Organizations Network (CISON) in the state, condemned the armed youths from both communities for allowing the violence to spread into the main town.
He urged government security forces to deploy personnel at the state hospital to protect wounded people receiving treatment from possible attacks.
Laat Kon expressed concern that injured people could be killed in hospitals and primary health care centres around Rumbek while being treated for gunshot wounds.
He also said armed youths had vandalized and looted the Rumbek police headquarters during Friday morning’s clashes.
As of Friday morning, fighting was continuing in several residential neighbourhoods, including Makuriric, Malual-Akan, Maborngap, Achol-Then, Malith and Akuac.
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