Negotiations between rival groups break down

The peace talks were organised by the Sudan Council of Churches (SCC) in an effort to solve long-standing conflicts and generate mutual understanding in the region.
 
Gabriel Doup Lam, Jonglei State Law Enforcement Minister, said Lou Nuer youths refused to discuss the causes of the conflict or engage in a search for solutions to end the fighting. Doup’s ministry had also brokered the negotiations, which were to take place on 14 September.

Read also: ‘Humanitarian conditions worsen in Greater Upper Nile’ by Simon Boboya WuduThe major cause of the conflict is the issue of cattle raids and child abduction by the Murle tribe,” he said. Other causes are youths with illegal firearms and land grabbing.”
 
Doup Lam said the Lou Nuer rejected the peace talks with claims that the Murle had killed many of their people during the last outbreak of violence, and that there is no way” to enter discussions now.
 
The Lou Nuer expressed anger and mistrust that most of the Murle youths were in possession of weapons despite a state disarmament program. Fears have been raised that the Lou Nuer prefer a revenge attack on their rivals to peace talks.

Listen to Marvis Birungi's audio report "Assembly summons ministers over Jonglei massacre"

Doup said police were deployed throughout the conflict areas, but their forces could not match the number of armed citizens from both groups.
 
Most Jonglei State police are unarmed, which makes controlling violence extremely difficult since those with weapons are ready to use them on police.
 
Personnel from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), along with troops of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), were deployed to calm the situation. But in Minister Doup’s view, they will not suffice to meet the challenge of over 1,000 armed civilians.

He has called on the national government to send more SPLA troops into the conflict areas.   
 
The Murle have been accused of abducting children from other communities such as Dinka, Nuer and Mundari. Heavy fighting has usually followed.
 
A Murle youth leader who goes by the name of Simon said his group was not preparing for renewed attacks and welcomed intervention by the UN and the government in case the Lou Nuer inflict more violence.

He refuted allegations that Murle youths were guilty of cattle raiding, land grabbing and rape.