JUBA, July 18 (Xinhua) -- At least 30 people have been killed and 23 others injured during a deadly cattle raid in a remote pastoralist area in South Sudan's eastern state of Jonglei over the weekend, a senior local government official said Tuesday.
Akech Dengdit, Jonglei State information Minister said armed youth believed to be from neighboring Boma state attacked Bor north and Atouch counties leaving at least 30 dead, including 9 attackers.
The official said thousands of people have been displaced from the area, calling on humanitarian organizations to respond to crisis.
"As of Monday, there were 28 confirmed dead, 23 injured and the number could go beyond 30 because we are still receiving more casualties. The attackers took away 9,000 cattle and burnt down several huts," Dengdit said.
The latest violence may shatter a peace deal signed in May between the warring tribes brokered by the country's first vice President Taban Deng Gai and the UN Mission in South Sudan( UNMISS) aimed at ending decades of inter-ethnic violence.
Dengdit said the government of Jonglei state has scaled up security in the region to prevent their youth from carrying out retaliatory attacks, calling on their counterparts in Boma state to do the same.
"As the government, we are trying everything to protect lives and stop the violence from spreading again and we ask our neighbors to control their youth," he added.
The Jonglei region bordering Ethiopia to the east has long been plagued by ethnic fighting over cattle grazing grounds and access to water.
The region is prone to deadly cattle rustling between the Nuer, Murle and Dinka tribes who often carry retaliatory attacks against each other killing hundreds, destroying property, mass displacement and sometimes abduction of children.
