The conflict erupted early Thursday morning around 4:00 AM, when armed youth from the Apuk Juwiir, Yar Ayiei, and Muok communities clashed with the Thony community over cattle disputes.
Sudans Post earlier reported that thirteen people were killed, and an unknown number were wounded on Thursday when armed local youth clashed over cattle.
In a follow-up interview, the commissioner reported an increase in the number of casualties after hours of continuous clashes.
“It is 15 people confirmed dead, yes. The number of people injured is 16,” Ring Deng Ading, Tonj South Commissioner, told Sudans Post in a phone interview.
The persistence of cattle raids in South Sudan, particularly in areas like Tonj South County, is deeply rooted in cultural and economic factors.
Traditionally, cattle hold immense significance in many South Sudanese communities, serving as a symbol of wealth, status, and social standing and are essential for livelihoods, dowries, and cultural practices, making them prime targets for raids, especially among rival groups.
Young men, often armed and seeking to prove their worth or secure resources, view cattle raiding as a means to gain prestige or economic stability, perpetuating a cycle of violence that is difficult to break.
Economic instability further exacerbates the issue. Widespread poverty and a lack of alternative livelihoods leave many young men with few options beyond cattle raiding to acquire wealth or resources.
In regions like Tonj South, where access to education, employment, and infrastructure is limited, raiding becomes a default mechanism for survival or social advancement. This economic desperation fuels recurring conflicts, as communities seek to reclaim stolen cattle or retaliate against perceived wrongs, often escalating disputes into deadly clashes.
Weak governance and inadequate security infrastructure also contribute to the persistence of cattle raids. In remote areas like Tonj South County, the government’s presence is minimal, and law enforcement lacks the resources or capacity to effectively intervene. The deployment of soldiers, as seen in this incident, often fails to quell violence due to logistical challenges or insufficient numbers.
Moreover, the proliferation of small arms, a legacy of decades of conflict in South Sudan, enables communities to engage in deadly raids and retaliatory attacks, transforming disputes over cattle into large-scale violence.
Historical rivalries and unresolved grievances, often tied to competition over grazing land and water, further entrench these conflicts, making cattle raids a persistent security threat across the region.
