Salva Kiir, the President of South Sudan, late on Monday declared a state of emergency in the northwestern regions of the country (South Sudan).
Three months were announced for emergency by the President himself, in the state of Gogrial, some parts of Tonj, Wau and Aweil East states.
“I do hereby declare a three months’ state of emergency in Gogrial state, part of Tonj, Wau and Aweil states,” announced President Salva Kiir on state-run South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation.
According to Michael Makuei Lueth, the Information Minister on Tuesday, he enlighted that the call for the emergency law was necessitated due to the level of insecurity posed by the ethnic violence.
The northwestern regions have along history of tribal feuds and ethnic violence which is often motivated by conflicts over cattle and grazing land.
“The Presidential decree means part of Bahr El Ghazal, where inter-ethnic clashes have intensified, will then be sealed for security purpose,” said Michael, the Minister of Information.
Much of the violence has reportedly been between the Apuk and Aguok communities. Both of these communities are sub clans of the country’s largest ethnic group, the Dinka.
The Dinka is the ethnic group to which President Salva Kiir belongs.
Reports show that, 70 people were killed in the areas in just last month. In May however, 38 people were as well killed in a single incident in Gogrial, which is Salva Kiir’s home state.
The ongoing civil war in South Sudan between supporters of Salva Kiir and those of the reported rebel leader and the former Vice President, Riek Machar, is inscinuated to be another reason for the Ptesident declaring a state of emergency.
The which conflict began in December 2013, has seen tens of thousands killed and several displaced.
The conflict has in this case increased the availability of weapons in the country, which are thus used to intensify violence between the competing ethnic groups.
Over the weekend, 36 people were killed in an attack on a avillage near Bor town in Dinka dominated central Jonglei state – the United Nations said on Tuesday.
Reporter: Shamilah Namuddu
