Intensified clashes erupted in Kapoeta East County of Eastern Equatoria State between Toposa youth and armed Turkana men from neighboring Kenya, authorities have confirmed.
Peter Lobei, a member of parliament representing Narus Payam at the state legislative assembly said the fighting started on Sunday and has been ongoing.
Lobei said the Turkana tribesmen attacked parts of Narus Payam on the weekend, and raided unspecified number of cattle.
As a result, the Topasa youth mobilized themselves on Monday to fight the “invaders” in retaliation.
“The issue started at 10 this morning. And yesterday, the Turkana came again and raided the Toposa cows and this morning again, Toposa from Kapoeta East all happened to retaliate for what happened,” Lobei said.
But they were repulsed and pushed back to the Nadapal area the lawmaker said.
“So, they also attacked Turkana cattle and they were repulsed back and then the fighting continued and up to now, the fighting is continuing.”
“The Turkana came up to the Nadapal South Sudan. They have crossed the River and they have come to this side.”
No death has been reported, but an SSPDF soldier was reportedly wounded during the incident.
The clashes occurred after the natives of Nadapal protested an alleged encroachment by Kenyan troops into South Sudan at the weekend.
While the South Sudanese youth were protesting, Kenya’s Cabinet Security of the country’s Interior and Administration Ministry flew to Turkana where he met with top security officers.
Kithura Kindiki was also received by Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomuruka.
Speaking on the Kenyan television, the official vowed to beef up security by ensuring an additional 100 contingent forces are recruited, trained, and deployed in the Nakodok area.
Following the weekend incident, Eastern Equatoria legislators blamed the Kenyan government for intruding into South Sudan’s territory.
“The Turkana cattle have moved up to Nadapal, the Mogilo mountain where there is grass,” MP Lobei continued.
“They are not coming for peace, they are coming with war and they are claiming that Nadapal is on their side.”
“Since the situation is now going from bad to worse, we are not planning to raise this issue as an alarm so that the national government should be also put in picture of what is happening at the border.”