At least 23 people were killed in tit-for-tat clashes between two communities in South Sudan’s Western Lakes State on Wednesday, the police said. Capt. Elijah Mabor Makuac, a police spokesperson in the state, told Radio Tamazuj this morning that preliminary reports said 23 people were killed in fighting between the Gak and Manuer sections of the Pakam community in Maper Town of Aloor County. He added that 47 others were injured from both parts of the Pakam community. The police officer pointed out that the cause of fighting between the two sections remains unclear. Mabor said security forces have been deployed to hotspots in the area to restore calm. Marik Nanga Marik, a lawmaker representing the area in the state legislative assembly, confirmed that deadly clashes erupted between the Gak and Manuer sections in Maper town yesterday. Nanga further said details on the new violence are still scanty, pointing out that no details yet had reached him about casualties. In December 2018, local leaders, youth and women of the Gak and Manuer sections in the counties of Aloor and Malueeth agreed to end years of inter-communal conflict. According to reports, the routine of inter-communal clashes in many parts of the country prevails due to lack of an efficient justice system.
