At least 26 killed in South Sudan tribal clashes

JUBA, Sept 17 (Reuters) - At ‌least 26 ​people ​have been killed and 82 others injured in Abyei town on the border between South Sudan ‌and Sudan after clashes between two rival tribes, ⁠the United Nations said in a statement on Thursday.

• Abyei is ‌an oil-rich area that is ‌jointly administered by South Sudan and Sudan, which have both staked claims to it following South Sudan's independence ​in 2011.

• The clashes took place at the Amiet Common Market in Abyei town and involved members ⁠of Ngok Dinka and Misseriya tribes and were sparked by the initial killing ​of two men from both tribes on Monday and Tuesday.

• The initial killings of the two ​men escalated tensions between the two ‌communities around the market, a key economic hub in the area, the United Nations Interim ⁠Security Force for Abyei said in the statement.

• "Following the deadly violence, UNISFA immediately reinforced its security presence in and around ⁠the market and deployed additional forces to de-escalate the situation," the agency ​said.

• The two tribes are long-time rivals and similar deadly clashes have broken out in the past over disputes involving grazing lands ‌and watering points for their animals.

• South Sudan has been mostly at peace since a ‌2018 agreement ended a five-year conflict during which thousands ⁠of people were killed. ‌Elections, the first since ​the country's independence, are due to be held in December.

(Writing by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Cynthia ‌Osterman)

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