Soldiers assess a village in the town of Abyei following an attack by armed assailants. (-)

An unspecified number of people were killed, and others injured in attacks on two counties of Abyei Administrative Area on Sunday, an official in the border region said.

Abyei Minister of Information, Bolis Kuoch said armed men whom he alleged to be from neighboring Warrap State launched offensives in Rum-Ameer and Aleel counties.

“Today at 5 in the morning, there was an attack in three areas in Rum Ameer County, the attack is by the youth of Warrap and Gai Maciek rebel groups,” Minister Kuoch said in an interview with Eye Radio.

“The attack was carried out in three villages of Rum Ameer and unspecified number of people were killed and injured. They are currently in the hospital receiving medical attention the second attack was at 6: 30 and ambush was carried on the way to Rum Ameer.”

Kuoch said he was yet to get details about the number of casualties received by local hospitals following the attack that occurred at 5 AM on Sunday.

According to Kuoch, the conflict was still ongoing in Malual Alue and Aleel areas by 10 AM when he was speaking to Eye Radio.

“The third attack is in the area of Malual Aleu of Aleel county the attack is currently ongoing and there is a number of wounded and killed,” he said.

“We want to inform South Sudan citizens that the attack carried this morning is a target to the people and areas of Abyei and soon I will give full details on the number of those killed and wounded in these attacks.”

Responding to the allegations, Warrap State Minister of Information William Wol Mayom says the accusations are being investigated.

“This is not investigated. We are still investigating and in our side this morning, I contacted the commissioner of Twic County he said all the armed youths from the area are still to be investigated on the accusations.”

He added: “So give us time and we will let you know.”

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

On Monday, 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 authorities in Warrap 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.