AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN - Malakal: heavy fighting between soldiers from three different ethnic groups

Juba (Agenzia Fides) - Violent fighting with the use of heavy weapons between two groups of soldiers of the army of South Sudan with many victims is what is happening today, April 22, in Malakal, the capital of South Sudan State of Upper Nile. "The clashes erupted last night and this morning resumed at 6 in an area within the city. Part of the population moved to southern Malakal to avoid being hit" local sources told Fides that for security reasons wish to remain anonymous.
"They are two rival groups of South Sudanese military army, this is because before being loyal to the nation the soldiers are loyal to their tribes. What is happening has already happened several times, that is to say that the military are divided according to which tribe they belong to" continue our sources. "In the current fighting, soldiers from three different ethnic groups, Dinka, Shilluk and Nuer are involved. The army is not united but is loyal to the politician of one own’s tribe. This is one of the elements to understand what is happening but it will take a few days to understand the dynamics that have sparked the current clashes". "The dead are numerous although we do not know how many. Continue to pray for us", concludes our source. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 22/04/2015)