This archive report was first published on 6 January 2022.
Published on January 6, 2022, a series of attacks by Messiraya nomads from Sudan on civilian settlements in Aweil East County of Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State of South Sudan have left at least 24 people dead.
According to Northern Bahr-El-Ghazel Information Minister William Anyuon Kuol, fresh clashes on Wednesday morning left 15 more people killed, bringing the total death toll to 24.
Mr. Kuol confirmed that the national army had repulsed the attackers, but the South Sudan People Defense Forces had yet to confirm the incident.
The attacks have been linked to conflict over grazing land between the Sudanese Messiraya nomads and the South Sudanese Aweil locals.
Due to seasonal changes in Sudan, Messiraya nomads with their herds of cattle normally move to South Sudan's Aweil and Abyei areas in search of water and pasture.
Several peace conferences between Dinka Malual and Messiraya have been held in the past, resulting in resolutions of maintaining peace, monitoring crime, and payment of blood compensation in case of murder.
