Map showing Warrap State and Abyei Administrative Area. (Photo: Courtesy).

Some religious’ leaders on Thursday voiced concerns over recurrence of violent conflicts between armed groups in Warrap State and Abyei Administrative Area, urging President Salva Kiir to intervene and stop the bloodshed.

On Monday, Abyei Information Minister Bolis Kuoch told Eye Radio that 32 people were killed during the Sunday morning’s attacks on several villages of the disputed region.

The minister said about 20 others were wounded in the violence on Rum Ameer and Aleel counties.

The incident is a continuation of renewed hostilities between the neighboring communities despite several peace efforts in the past.

On November 10, 2023, both the Warrap government and Abyei Civil Society Organization issued separate statements accusing each other’s youth of cross-border attacks.

The statement by Kuajok alleged that armed youth from Abyei Administrative Area attacked a military barrack in Twic resulting in the death of 36 soldiers, three women, and three children.

Meanwhile, in a press release issued by Abyei Civil Society, the armed militia of Titweng attacked civilians in Athony, Malual –Aleu and Kadhian villages in Abyei in date on November 13, resulting in the killing of 2 people and wounding of 7 others.

Moses Deng Bol, the Archbishop of Northern Bahr el Ghazal Internal Province of the Episcopal Church said the Twic-Ngok conflict has been politicized.

The cleric also said the presence of firearms in the hands of unauthorized persons is another factor magnifying the situation.

Addressing a press conference in Juba, Archbishop Deng appealed President Salva Kiir to intervene and address the matter.

“Here, we appeal to His Excellency the President directly because we know he has the authority to call these politicians together and to convivence them to allow the two communities to coexist,” Deng said.

“If there are issues like the issue of the border, he has the authority to appoint a committee like the traditional authority who know the borders earlier so that they can resolved this issue.”

For his part, Justin Badi Arama, the Archbishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan also called on the government to intervene and stop the prevailing bloodshed between the two communities.

“There has been constant intercommunal between Dinka Ngog and Twic Mayardit so here we are saying let the government intervene because the government has the power to control firearms that are owned by civilians.”

“So let them intervene and stop this continue bloodshed between these two communities.”

On Wednesday, UNISFA condemned the attacks by a group of armed youths on villages in the areas around Angath, Wunpeth, and Korioch in Abyei Administrative Area.

UNISFA said they are engaging the Abyei Area Administration and Ngok Dinka traditional leaderships as well as stakeholders in Juba to ensure peace and security is maintained in the Abyei area.