At least 30 people have been killed and over 40 injured in a northern South Sudanese town, following a cattle raid by an armed youth group.
The attack, which occurred in the Ruweng Administrative Area, is the latest incident in a series of clashes between pastoralists and settled farming communities in the world’s youngest country.
According to local Minister of Information Simon Chol Mialith, the group stole lambs earlier in the week, but were scared off by security forces.
However, they returned the next day, attacking the town of Abiemnom and overpowering the youth and security forces.
The South Sudan People’s Defence Force (SSPDF) eventually drove the group out of the settlement, restoring calm to the area.
However, the incident has raised concerns about the country’s fragile political situation, with forces allied to President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar clashing across the country.
South Sudan has struggled with instability and insecurity since gaining independence in 2011, despite its natural oil resources.
The country is still recovering from a five-year civil war that ended in 2018, and the recent clashes have sparked fears of a return to violence.
