At least 23 killed in renewed tribal clashes in South Sudan
Tuesday, August 14, 2018

At least 23 people have been killed and 52 others injured during fresh tribal violence in the western South Sudanese town of Tonj over the weekend, a local government official said on Monday.

The violence started on Friday after four local pastoralists from the rival Dinka tribe were killed during a foiled cattle raid, Tonj State Minister of Information James Ayiik Dak told Xinhua by phone.

Dak said the community of the slain herders launched a counter attack on a neighboring community which they suspected to have carried out the failed raid, leading to scores of causalities.

He said calm has since returned to the region after a joint military force made of army soldiers and police was deployed.

"After the clashes ended on Aug. 11, we confirmed a total of 23 people dead and 52 wounded from both sides," Dak said. "Calm has returned to the area and there is no major security threat."

For decades, livestock-related violence has been a major challenge among pastoralist communities in South Sudan as thousands of people are estimated to have been killed in violent cattle raids.

Xinhua