An armed herder tends to cattle in unidentified place in South Sudan | Credit | Courtesy
Eight people have been killed and 14 others injured following Sunday violence at Gan Cattle Camp in Lakes State.
The Acting Minister of Information in Lakes State, William
Koji Kerjok said the clashes erupted between the Boor and Niel Niel sections
when one person was injured during celebratory gunfire at a traditional
bull-showcasing event.
What began as a cultural gathering quickly escalated into
deadly conflict, leaving multiple people with gunshot wounds and resulting in the
loss of lives.
“What government and the community leaders did was to stop
the provoking situation. So, after the situation is stopped, they have been separated,
and each section was shown a place. What will come later now is to investigate
who were the ones and of course they will be arrested,” Kerjok said.
He stated that the government, along with community leaders
and commissioners from Rumbek North and Rumbek Center, intervened to
de-escalate the situation and separate the two groups.
The injured survivors have been taken to Rumbek State
Hospital, though efforts to reach hospital administrators for an update on
their condition were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.