South Sudan: Horrors of tribal violence

The euphoria of South Sudan’s independence six months ago after decades of civil war with the north has been replaced by fears of escalating tribal violence

AFP , Saturday 14 Jan 2012 (http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/31698/World/Region/Horrors-of-tribal-violence-devastate-South-Sudanes.aspx)

An unknown number of people — at least dozens, some fear hundreds — were killed in tribal clashes this month in Jonglei state, South Sudan declared a "disaster zone" by the Juba government, with the UN warning some 60,000 people had been affected by the violence and are in need of emergency aid.

In a dramatic escalation of bitter tit-for-tat attacks, a militia army of around 8,000 Lou Nuer youths recently marched on Pibor county, attacking villages and taking children and cows away with them, to exact revenge on the Murle whom they blame for abductions and cattle raiding.

From the air, black spots pockmarking the earth show where homes and fields were razed as attackers left villages smouldering in their wake. Large herds of stolen cattle were also seen being driven towards Nuer villages.

The government has confirmed around 80 people killed in revenge attacks in Lou Nuer areas this week, but the UN and government cannot confirm the number of Murle killed in the first assault. Some estimates by local government officials in the thousands are not yet verified, as teams asses a vast area lacking roads.

Access difficulties and a state the size of Bangladesh have been cited as the reason why UN peacekeepers and government troops failed to stop the deadly column advancing. Others say troops were dispatched late and were clearly outnumbered, or were hesitant to intervene in a tribal conflict that last year killed around 1,100 people in a series of cattle raids.

"The reconciliatory peace process must restart immediately," after peace talks between the two tribes collapsed in early December.