Escalating Communal Violence in Warrap
Warrap State officials confirm that clashes between the Nyarmuong and Jur-Man-Anger communities have claimed 14 lives and left 15 people wounded since Monday.
Local spokespeople describe a rapid escalation over the weekend, fuelled by revenge killings and the mobilisation of armed youth across Gogrial East County.
Casualties and Medical Response
Information Minister Mamer Bath reports that several wounded were moved to Kuajok and Wau hospitals, but warns that tall grasses and flooded tracks complicate evacuations.
Police director Brigadier General Mabek Monytoc fears uncounted victims remain in unreachable villages, suggesting the death toll could rise as searches progress.
Trigger and Retaliation Claims
Commissioner Duchak Bol says the spark was a shooting in Nyarmuong payam, allegedly involving gunman Akol Mariak, who joined an armed group spanning Warrap and Unity states.
In reprisal, Nyarmuong youths reportedly killed a chief’s brother and two children in Maker village, before a mourner was shot while burying a relative.
Security Difficulties on the Ground
Dense bushland, seasonal floods and limited roads hinder Division 11 infantry units that were asked to separate combatants and secure hotspot villages.
Commanders admit visibility is low, making it risky to advance without precise intelligence on armed youth movements hidden in the swamps.
Appeals for Dialogue and Long-Term Stability
State leaders urge elders, churches and civil society to convene peace forums that address cattle disputes and the circulation of automatic weapons among youths.
Bath argues that only broad reconciliation can halt the ‘cycle of violence’ and allow Warrap to focus on development priorities shared across South Sudan.
Observers note previous state-backed amnesty programs reduced tensions, suggesting renewed political support could again curb retaliatory raids without heavy force.