Death toll from South Sudan clashes hits 90

By Parach Mach

JUBA, South Sudan

Fighting between pastoralist communities escalated in the Western Lakes State in central South Sudan on Thursday, as the death toll from three days of clashes rose to at least 90, officials said on Friday.

Akol Paul Kordit, deputy government spokesman said battles over cattle and land between rival factions of the Rup and Pakam clans at his constituency broke out on Wednesday in the Western Lakes State, some 250 kilometers (155 miles) northwest of the capital Juba and have continued until Friday.

“The violence, which erupted on Wednesday is caused by a long chronic communal violence, cattle and land dispute which has been the cause of death,” said Kordit.

The fighting is currently located in Malek and has resulted in the deaths of at least 90 people, he said.

In a letter, the legislator urged the president to declare a state of emergency and deploy the military to disarm civilians.

Bol Machok, the state minister of information, told local media that a joint security force has been sent to the area to quell the fighting.

The three-and-half-year of civil war in South Sudan has fueled tribal division and inter-communal violence in the country.