UN: South Sudan rebels kill nine civilians during weekend attacks

[News_Editor]

UN: South Sudan rebels kill nine civilians during weekend attacks

2011-11-02 22:44:53 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations (UN) has dispatched peacekeepers and medical staff to northern South Sudan after deadly attacks during the weekend by members of a rebel group.

The attacks were carried out by the South Sudan Liberation Army (SSLA) on Saturday morning against Mayom, a community in Unity State. At least nine civilians are believed to have been killed, including four children, while two others have been reported missing and presumed dead.

Aleem Siddique, a spokesperson for the UN operation in South Sudan (UNMISS), said armed forces and police officers eventually repelled the attack and the situation in Mayom, which is the headquarters of the county which carries the same name, has since calmed.

A team of peacekeepers, medical staff and civilian experts were deployed to the area on Sunday by UNMISS to help local authorities deal with the aftermath of the attack while the mission also evacuated several wounded civilians to a UN hospital in the town of Bentiu, the state capital.

Siddique said the mission is deeply concerned by the killings, which followed a warning from the SSLA urging staff from the UN and non-governmental organizations to leave the area for their own safety.

"We remain firmly committed to serving the people of South Sudan," Siddique said, stressing that UNMISS is not evacuating its staff from either Unity or neighboring Warrap state. He also said the mission will work closely with state and national authorities in the new country to tackle causes of insecurity.

In July, South Sudan became independent after a referendum in which voters overwhelmingly backed secession from Sudan. The country has experienced a series of deadly inter-ethnic clashes since its independence, as well as fighting involving rebel groups opposed to the Government.

At least 600 people were killed and more than 750 others were injured in late August when tribal clashes erupted in the state of Jonglei. The clashes originated between the Murle and Lou Nuer communities following large-scale cattle raids by members of the two groups, leading to the theft of between 26,000 and 30,000 cattle. Cattle raids are a persistent problem in South Sudan.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-11-02