(ST)

Some 18 people have been killed in Unity state during clashes between the southern Sudan army and Misseriya cattle herders from South Kordofan in northern Sudan.
"It was a surprise attack. They managed to kill seven — six soldiers and one civilian," said the SPLA spokesperson Kuol Diem Kuol in a statement to Reuters about the latest attack occurred on Wednesday.

Kuol further said that eight bodies from the Misseriya were found in the Unity state. An earlier attack killed three from both sides.

Following the signing of the CPA and establishment of the southern Sudan administration in Juba, authorities urge the Misseriya to disarm before to cross Kiir River also spelled ’Baḩr al Arab’ but the pastoralists say they still face attacks by gunmen to steal their cattle.

Regional authorities from both sides in northern and southern Sudan held reconciliation conferences between the local tribes to promote peaceful coexistence but the clashes continue to occur from time to time.

The tribal fighting between southern Sudan ethnic groups over cattle and land grazing caused the death of about 2,500 people, also some 350,000 people fled their home according to aid agencies.

Last January cattle raiders from Unity state killed some 139 people during an attack on neighboring Tonj East County in Warrap state. The fighting, purportedly over cattle, also left at least 90 wounded and several thousands head of cattle looted.

In another development, the SPLA spokesperson said that fighting between the southern Sudanese Toposa tribe and neighboring Kenyan Turkana tribe also erupted on Wednesday, killing eight people.

Cross border cattle rustling and attacks carried by the Sudanese Toposa angered Kenyan authorities and pushed Nairobi in the past to protest formally requesting the return of the stolen cattle.