At least 20 people including a local chief have been killed in a new eruption of communal violence in Torit State, officials said on Thursday. Charles Ojok Okec, speaker of the Torit state legislative assembly, told Radio Tamazuj that the clashes started in Torit County on Sunday over cattle raid. “The fighting was between the Pari and Logiri communities. I can confirm that 17 people from the Pari community of Lapon County were killed. According to the report, 3 people from the Logiri of Torit County including the chief of Lokila were killed, “he said. The state lawmaker further said 10 people from both sides were injured in the clashes.” Eight people from the Pari were injured while two people from the Logiri were injured,” he explained. The fighting broke out over accusations of cattle thefts between the two communities, according to Okec. “The two county commissioners had called for a meeting between the two sides in Torit County to resolve the issue of cattle raids, but the fighting erupted during the meeting,” he said. He further said no arrests have been made so far. On his part, the commissioner of Torit County, Fermo Peter Isara said fighting between the two groups has killed dozens of people. He said that the Pari community of Lapon County attacked their Logiri counterpart during a meeting, triggering the fighting. The commissioner of Lapon County could not be reached for comment. Rival pastoralists communities in the region have a long history of tit-for-tat raids in which cattle are rustled. Livestock herding is the main source of income in many parts of South Sudan.
