The government of Warrap State has accused armed youth from Abyei Administrative Area of carrying out an attack in Twic County on Thursday night.
The state ministry of information says the attack left one person dead and three others injured at Malou village in Ajak Kuac Payam
William Wol identified the deceased as Atem Atem Mading age 20. Makuac Chol Athuai, Ring Thuc Athuai, Chok Akech Deng sustained gunshot injuries.
“What happened last night is bad and the government of Warrap State has condemned it. We are in solidarity with family of the deceased,” he told Mayardit FM.
Wol urged the Abyei government to stop armed youth from crossing the border into Twic’s territory – a move that could help restore peace in the area.
“We don’t want fighting between Abyei and Twic to continue. We want peace to prevail so that people of Twic and Abyei can return to their normal co-existence they had been enjoying for decades,” the minister added.
Also read: Twic, Abyei youth clash, again
The series of attacks between the two communities have left nearly 150 people dead since it erupted over Aneet land dispute in February 2022.
Chiefs from the Twic and Abyei community have blamed politicians for the continued intercommunal violence between Twic and Abyei communities
In response, the minster of information in the Abyei Administrative Area – Bol Kooch Aguar – said though he was not aware of the incident, his government has no power to control the youth since the area is under UN control, UNISFA.
Kooch said: “Our duty is only to provide the other services. Law implementation and arrest can be carried out by UNISFA. We don’t have powers to arrest any person.”
The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei is a United Nations peacekeeping force in Abyei, which is contested between the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan.
The primary objective of United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) is to monitor the border between north and south and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid. UNISFA is also authorized to use force in protecting civilians and humanitarian workers in Abyei.