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South Sudan: Jonglei militia 'kills dozens' | South Sudan: Jonglei militia 'kills dozens' |
(34 minutes later) | |
Some 78 people have been killed and scores wounded in an attack on villages in South Sudan's Jonglei state, the local MP has told the BBC. | Some 78 people have been killed and scores wounded in an attack on villages in South Sudan's Jonglei state, the local MP has told the BBC. |
The attackers were believed to be members of David Yau Yau's rebel group, said MP Deng Dau. | The attackers were believed to be members of David Yau Yau's rebel group, said MP Deng Dau. |
Jonglei is badly affected by ethnic rivalries and disputes over land and cattle ownership. | Jonglei is badly affected by ethnic rivalries and disputes over land and cattle ownership. |
More than 1,500 people are estimated to have been killed in the area since South Sudan's independence in 2011. | More than 1,500 people are estimated to have been killed in the area since South Sudan's independence in 2011. |
Tens of thousands have also been left homeless by the fighting. | Tens of thousands have also been left homeless by the fighting. |
'Abductions' | |
South Sudan Information Minister Micheal Makuie told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme that security forces have been deployed to capture the rebels. | |
Air surveillance is also being carried out to "detect their line of movement", he added. | |
Army spokesman Col Philip Aguer told the BBC at least two villages had been burned during Sunday's attack in Jonglei's Twic East County. | |
Mr Dau, who has just visited the scene, said the attackers wore green uniforms and had used heavy weapons including mortars. | |
The attack left 78 people dead and 88 wounded, he said, adding that 24 people, many of them children, had been abducted. | |
The UN mission in South Sudan said more than 30 people had been flown to the nearest towns for medical treatment. | |
Thousands of cattle were stolen during the attack, the acting governor of Jonglei, Hussein Maar, said, in comments carried by the Associated Press news agency. | Thousands of cattle were stolen during the attack, the acting governor of Jonglei, Hussein Maar, said, in comments carried by the Associated Press news agency. |
South Sudan is awash with small arms after decades of conflict against Khartoum's rule. | South Sudan is awash with small arms after decades of conflict against Khartoum's rule. |
Khartoum gave it independence in 2011 following talks brokered by the US and regional countries. | Khartoum gave it independence in 2011 following talks brokered by the US and regional countries. |
Cattle lie at the heart of life for many communities in the country which has hardly any banks - they are used as a form of wealth, to pay dowries and as a source of food in the lean season. | Cattle lie at the heart of life for many communities in the country which has hardly any banks - they are used as a form of wealth, to pay dowries and as a source of food in the lean season. |
A single cow can be worth hundreds of dollars depending on its colouring. | A single cow can be worth hundreds of dollars depending on its colouring. |