Lual Buk Tong, Aweil South County’s Director of Information, reported from the county headquarters in Malek-Alel on Sunday that Yel Yel, aged 48, killed his 30-year-old brother, Yel Yel Yel, following an argument over 7,000 SSP. According to preliminary reports from the deceased’s relatives, the conflict arose when Yel Yel Yel asked his brother for a 1,000 SSP loan to address an urgent need, which Yel Yel refused.
Tong explained that Yel Yel, accompanied by his wife, took their sick child to a hospital in Panthou Payam. Later that night, Yel Yel Yel visited to inquire about the child’s condition. During this visit, an altercation occurred. Yel Yel and his wife allegedly attacked Yel Yel Yel with a knife, striking him in the neck. The victim fell unconscious and later succumbed to his injuries.
“They struck him on the neck as he tried to ask about the child’s health. The couple then fled the house, saw him standing in the compound, and accused him of being a sorcerer. They attacked him until he collapsed,” Tong said. Despite being rushed to a clinic, Yel Yel Yel passed away.
Tong noted that both Yel Yel and his wife were arrested, but the family is seeking to release Yel Yel, believing he did not intend to kill his brother. “The family is planning to release him, possibly today or tomorrow, as they feel there’s nothing more to be done. He has expressed remorse,” Tong added.
The incident has shocked the community, county, and state, with many questioning the motive behind such a tragic act. Tong urged residents to refrain from taking the law into their own hands, especially amid rising tensions driven by economic hardship, which he said is tearing families apart.
The director highlighted that such violent acts are becoming increasingly common in the state, often attributed to unemployment and the struggle to adapt to challenging living conditions.
