Co-ordinated cattle raids kill at least 72 people in South Sudan's Warrap state, homes burnt

At least 72 people have been killed during cattle raids in South Sudan's northern Warrap state, according to the regional government.

State authorities described Monday's violence as a "co-ordinated attack" involving two communities in Tonj North county. An unspecified number of cattle were taken and homes were burnt during the attack.

The clashes occurred near the border of Warrap and Unity states in the area of Akop Payam, with some members of the Lou Ariik community said to have attacked those from the Apuk Padoch community.

William Wol Mayom Bol, Warrap state's information minister, said the attack followed deadly violence last Friday that claimed eight lives.

The state governor, Angelo Ngot Mayar, sent his condolences to bereaved families and directed security agencies to evacuate the wounded. He said efforts were under way to recover the cattle and find those behind the assault.

The state has also appealed to humanitarian partners to support vulnerable women, children and elderly people left without food, shelter and medicine.

Cattle are a main source of wealth and pride for many communities in South Sudan, and young men also need them as dowries to get married. Deadly violence of this kind is often part of a cycle of revenge attacks, and clashes over territory are also common.

In August, at least 60 people were killed and 50 injured in an attack in the same area of Warrap state, according to Acled, the non-profit conflict monitoring group. A similar attack in March led to 58 deaths and 71 injuries.

Last year, a six-month state of emergency was declared in Warrap in efforts to quell the increasing violence.

The country is preparing to hold its first election since its independence in 2011, delayed because of a brutal civil war. Presidential elections are due to be held in December.

The civil war ended in 2018 with a fragile peace deal signed between President Salva Kiir and his deputy Riek Machar. However, tensions between the leaders led to further delays: Machar was sacked as vice-president and arrested last year and charged with murder, treason and crimes against humanity, which he denies. He has been under house arrest in the capital, Juba, since March last year, as fighting persists in some areas.

Preparations for the elections have lagged and human rights groups have raised questions over whether the country can complete key things like voter registration and security arrangements before the vote. The UN has also voiced its concerns about the situation in South Sudan.