Fighting Erupts Over Cattle Movement in Lakes State
A routine cattle trek turned deadly on Monday in Citcok, Cueibet County, when armed youth from the Panyar section encountered Ruotruot herders. Local officials report that a misunderstanding over passage rights quickly escalated into armed confrontation.
By Tuesday afternoon, four people lay dead and three more nursed gunshot wounds, according to acting state information minister William Koji Kerjok. “The violence stemmed from the behavior of some armed youth,” he told local radio, stressing that the situation flared within hours.
Rapid Security Deployment and Local Mediation
Kerjok confirmed that the acting county commissioner rushed to the scene with security forces to separate the combatants. Soldiers now patrol key grazing corridors, and elders have been tasked with calming tempers before harvest migrations intensify pressure on grazing land.
Parliamentarian Sounds Alarm on Rising Tensions
Mathew Manyot Magar, who represents Cueibet in the National Legislative Assembly, said the clashes reflect deeper frustrations over land access. “Urgent attention is required to prevent revenge attacks,” he warned, urging state authorities to reinforce policing and support community peace committees.
Civil Society Calls for Disarmament and Dialogue
Daniel Laat Kon of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization lamented the “very low government attention” to recurrent communal clashes. He advocates civilian disarmament and structured dialogues, arguing that unchecked arms fuel cycles of retaliation that can engulf neighboring Rumbek North.
Intercommunal Violence Remains a National Challenge
Cattle-related disputes continue to haunt South Sudan’s hinterlands, where formal justice is scarce and automatic rifles common. Analysts note that seasonal movements, drought, and youth unemployment converge to make rural flashpoints volatile. Authorities hope that swift intervention in Cueibet can avert wider destabilization across Lakes State.