Tribal feud leaves 38 dead in South Sudan

By Parach Mach

JUBA, South Sudan (AA) - At least 38 people have been killed while 35 others injured in remote Gogrial State of South Sudan, in an apparent resurgence of a long-running tribal feud, an official said Monday.

The clashes between Apuk and Aguok -- sub-clans of the country’s largest ethnic group Dinka -- are the latest outburst of violence in President Salva Kiir’s home state.

The recent clashes took place over the weekend as a result of disputes on borders, grazing land and water points, said Agoth Mel, Gogrial State’s deputy governor.

“Each group claims that they are avenging killing of their members by either side,” he said.

He blamed instability and presence of arms in the hand of civilians across South Sudan as a root cause of clashes and mass killings.

Three and a half years of civil war has fueled tribal divisions, ethnic violence and tribal fighting in all parts of the country.

South Sudan dashed into crisis in 2013 after President Salva Kiir accused his long serving deputy president Riek Machar of coup attempt. Machar has denied the allegations several times.

A peace deal signed between Kiir and Machar under UN’s pressure last year led to the formation of a unity government in April, but was shattered by renewed fighting that erupted in early July last year.

Tens of thousands have been killed and more than three million displaced since 2013 and hundreds of thousand at the risk of starvation.