Bari and Mundari clashed over cattle raiding in Jebel Lado, north of Juba, S. Sudan

Recent inter-tribal conflict in Jonglei and Warrap states claimed more than 300 lives. Bari and Mundari communities clashed last week over cattle raiding in Jebel Lado area, north of Juba.

From Sudan Radio Service 29 April 2009 - (Juba):

The speaker of southern Sudan legislative assembly James Wani Igga is urging the Bari and Mundari communities to stop fighting and live peacefully.

The Bari and Mundari communities, who have lived peacefully over the years, clashed last week over cattle raiding in Jebel Lado area, north of Juba.

Speaking to Sudan Radio Service James Wani Igga explains how the fighting started.

[James Wani]: “Mundari boys are the ones who attacked Bari in a place called Nyarkenyi, they took Bari cows, killed people, and also looted some villages. Now if you go to a village like Pöyiti Gwerikek, it has become deserted and everything is looted. This thing is wrong. Let our brothers the Mundari, if they really started the attacks as I heard, let them know that ever since there was no fighting between Bari and Mundari, let Mundari elders tell those boys that this is not the time to start fighting ourselves as one community. Our grandfathers did not fight each other. If we finish ourselves now, what will happen if the enemies come? Now even the people of Wonduroba are complaining that Mundari boys have raided their cattle, and they are also fighting.”

Mister Igga asked the Mundari elders to calm those fighting and urged the elders of the two communities to sit down and solve the dispute.

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From Sudan Radio Service 29 April 2009 - (Khartoum):

The National Congress Party - southern sector is calling for the formation of a joint NCP/SPLM committee to fight tribalism and inter-tribal conflicts in southern Sudan.

The official spokesperson of NCP - southern sector, Khamis Haggar, told Sudan Radio Service in Khartoum that southern Sudan is in need of reconciliation conferences and workshops to stop the conflict in the towns and villages in southern Sudan where tension exists.

[Khamis Haggar]: “The SPLM and the NCP should sit down and form a body that will maintain security and stability in southern Sudan and this step should consider inter-communal reconciliation between various communities and the formation of a joint army between the NCP and SPLM, police forces and a separate security organ to curb tribalism and inter-tribal conflicts. There should also be an executive organ to maintain justice which gives each aggrieved party his or her rights and there must be an inter-communal mechanism that can prevent tribalism. If these tribal conflicts continue, they will impede elections in southern Sudan and also the referendum for the self determination of southern Sudan which is the right of each citizen in the south. If we fail to maintain security in southern Sudan, it will be considered that we southern Sudanese are incapable of ruling ourselves.”

Recent inter-tribal conflict in Jonglei and Warrap states claimed more than 300 lives.