A revenge attack sparked by cattle rustling earlier this month killed at least 17 people in northern South Sudan and forced oil workers to evacuate the Toma South oil field, a local official said Monday .
Livestock theft linked to competition for scarce resources is one of the main triggers of conflict between ethnic groups in South Sudan, which is awash in weapons after decades of war.
Fighting began Saturday in a village in Khat Elnar, Ruweng administrative area, where government officials were trying to resolve issues related to a previous cattle theft, said James Arop Ayuel, a local government spokesman.
The violence spread to the Toma South oil fields, managed by the Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC), where a facility was attacked and looted, according to Ayuel.
“We are calling on the government of South Sudan to send forces to protect the oil fields because it is a national issue,” Ayuel said.
“They went to loot the oil installations. So far, as I speak to you, this morning, I have been told that they came during the night and they looted the complex again,” he said. he added.
The heavily armed looters came from Rubkona County in neighboring Unity state to recover livestock stolen by youths in the Ruweng administrative area, Ayuel said.
