Authorities in Lake State have confirmed inter-clan fighting in three counties within the state, as well as raiding from Unity State.

The state’s new information minister, Mariik Nanga Mariik, told Radio Tamazuj today there was recent fighting in Rumbek East, Rumbek North, Cueibet and between Rumbek East and Yirol West.

He added that there also was a cattle raid last week on 21 March, resulting in one person killed from Rumbek North county. The raiders came from Panyijar County in Unity State, he claimed.

Last month citizens in Panyijar said they were raided from Lakes State, and forced to flee their villages to the bush.

In Lakes, a Maper County official has also claimed there were raids from Unity, according to a report today by Gurtong news.

“The raiders are suspected to have come from Unity state. They attacked Akanyang camp and raided more than 500 cows but all (cows) were recovered,” the official said.

“The attackers lost five people on spot. Ten bodies were counted on the ground and all cows were returned,” he added, saying the cattle raiders were clad in mixed service uniforms.

Sudan Tribune reports today, meanwhile, that community and traditional leaders in Rumbek North County held a reconciliation meeting at Rumkoor last Friday in a bid to ease tensions between two clans, the Gaak and Manuer.

The online daily reports that the clans on 10 March fought at Yhaga cattle camp, reportedly after a dispute about a girl. Nine people were killed and another four suffered gunshot wounds.

Peter Mathiang Mayom, a student representative, described the reconciliation meeting as productive. The Gaak and Manuer clans have reinstated their confidence to co-exist peacefully, he said.

Maluong Malueth, a pastoralist youth representing the Manuer clan, said that "it was not our intention to fight Gaak but unintentional."

Photo: A cattle camp in South Sudan (Cédric Gerbehaye/Pulitzer Center)