Deadly clashes over cattle theft in Unity state involving SPLA forces left four dead and many others wounded.
This came following reports alleging that armed criminals operating in Parieng County, Unity State, entered the eastern part of Heglig six days ago where a number of Arab nomads of Palata origin were seeking water and grazing lands for a total of 1500 heads of cattle.The Arab nomads followed the footprints of their cattle to Parieng and subsequently reported the incident to the local authorities for immediate recovery.
The clash happened when the local authorities dispatched police forces to confiscate the stolen cattle from cattle raiders.
Mayik Nyok, a local official from Parieng told Sudan Tribune that, on Tuesday joint forces from the local police forces and the SPLA have twice clashed with cattle raiders in the area.
SPLA spokesperson, Kuol Deim Kuol, confirmed the clash and clarified that it was not direct fighting between the SPLA forces and the local civilian population.
General Kuol explained that one SPLA soldier was killed along with one Arab nomad and two cattle raiders while another SPLA solider sustained non-fatal injuries.