Fighting erupts between rival Jikany sections in Ethiopia refugee camp

January 10th 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – Fighting has erupted between rival Jikany community sections in a refugee camp in the neighboring Ethiopia, several sources with knowledge told the Nyamilepedia this afternoon.

The source said the fighting erupted between the Gajaak and Gajiok sub-sections of the Jikany community over an issue the source did not mentioned adding that there are reports of casualties but he cannot confirm the number at the time of this report.

“The Gajaak and the Gatjiok communities’ are currently fighting between themselves in Kule, Tharpaam. We cannot confirm the number of casualties because the fighting is ongoing but there are deaths as I heard,” the source told the Nyamilepedia on the condition of anonymity.

For his part, the former SPLM-IO governor of Sobat state, Duer Tut Duer, called for clam saying the two subsection of the Jikany community are brothers and that there are a lot that need their attention both at home and in Ethiopia.

“Allow me to remind you that, Gajaak and Gajiok are brothers, the Land of Jikany is beautiful because it belongs to both Gajaak and Gajiok, the youth fighting amongst themselves in the name of Gajiok and Gajaak are Christians and members of Youth for peace, the both Communities of Gajiok and Gajaak are members of Nuer Christian Mission Network,” Tut said in a statement.

“So what unite you are more important than what divides you. Please come back to reason, know very well that there are issues in South Sudan which need your unity, there are also issues in Ethiopia that need your unity, forgive one another, love one another stop fighting one another,” he added.

Another source said fighting started on Sunday between rival youth and that Ethiopian police were late to intervene leading to few deaths among the two sides.

Kule is a refugee camp in Ethiopia’s Western Gambella region and has been a home to thousands of Nuer refugees fleeing violent in South Sudan.