23 Killed In Mvolo Clashes

15 February 2011 – (Yambio/Rumbek) – At least 23 people were killed in communal violence in Mvolo county of Western Equatoria state on Friday.

According to the Minister of Information in Western Equatoria state, Gibson Bullen Wande, the communal violence erupted over grazing land. He said cattle herders from the neighboring Yirol East County crossed into Mvolo county to graze their cattle.

Gibson Bullen Wande spoke to SRS from Yambio on Tuesday.

[Gibson Bullen Wande]: “There are clashes between Dinka and the Jur communities in Mvolo county that started last Friday. 23 people are confirmed dead in that clashes, 8 people from the Jur community and about 15 from the Dinka community. The cause of the clash is that Dinka community came to Mvolo county with their cattle for grazing and they killed one trader from Mvolo community and displaced many others. That's was the spark of the problem.”

However, the governor of Lakes state Chol Tong Mayay said ten people were killed on Friday when a group of youth from Mvolo attacked a cattle camp in Yirol East county.

[Chol Tong Mayay]: “A cattle camp from Yirol east was attacked by a group of young men from Mvolo county early in the morning (Friday). One child died and several heads of cattle were killed and some children went missing until yesterday. Those wounded were brought yesterday to Yirol county Hospital with the commissioner's vehicle. Ten people lost their lives among them are children and women and several others wounded; we don't know the motive behind attack at the cattle camp.”

According to Wande, the government has deployed SPLA forces around the region to ensure maximum peace and security is provided for both communities and further clashes are avoided.