172 killed in tribal clashes in central South Sudan

JUBA - The number of people killed in clashes between rival Dinka tribe clans in central South Sudan has risen to 172, a local official said on Tuesday.

"The death toll is 172 and the wounded people are 213. Some of the injured victims are dying," said Dharuai Mabor Teny, Member of Parliament in Rumbek East of Western Lakes State.

Earlier reports put the toll of the clashes, which started on Dec 6, between the Rup and Pakam clans, at 60.

The fighting was ignited by the Rup clan, which attacked the Pakam tribesmen who they blame for displacing them from their land located in Malek County.

This came after another recent bout of deadly clashes in northern Jonglei State between the pastoral Dinka and Murle tribe that left 69 people dead and scores injured.

Teny added that despite President Salva Kiir declaring State of emergency in the restive region, the situation remains tense, hence warranting deployment of the South Sudan army (SPLA).

"The situation is not clear, since the president declared State of emergency, unless he pressures the (SPLA) Chief of Staff to deploy troops here then the situation will calm down," Teny revealed.

The head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) David Shearer said the number of people being killed in such revenge killings involving rival communities could easily exceed those killed in the political conflict.

"A lot of these problems are longstanding, they have been going on for years, but when you mix automatic weapons into this violence and a cycle of revenge killing, then you got a recipe for ongoing violence for a long time and the number of people being killed in these sorts of attacks is now exceeding the political conflict certainly over the last few weeks," Shearer said in Juba.

He added that UNMISS responded as quickly as possible, and they have so far managed to remove road blocks on the main road between Rumbek and Wau.

"We have been able to manage to clear those (road blocks) so that the transport is able to continue," he disclosed, adding that they were still engaging the rival clans to cease hostilities.