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A civil war from 2013-18 caused hundreds of thousands of deaths
and although the main belligerents have since been at peace,
clashes continue among armed groups.
Activists believe the recent rise in violence is at least partly
connected to the elections to choose leaders to succeed the
present transitional government.
In the latest incident on Sunday, youths attacked Ajwara village
in Pibor's Pochalla county, Abraham Kelang, Information Minister
of Greater Pibor Administrative Area, said.
"Twelve people were killed, 10 injured and there were some
cattle that were raided," he told Reuters, adding that most of
the dead were elderly.
The attackers, from the Murle ethnic group, are also suspected
of abducting children, Owety Olung, the acting commissioner of
Pochalla County, said.
"We have 15 children who are still missing right now. We don't
know where they are if they are with the attackers or in the
bush," he told Reuters.
Pochalla County is mostly inhabited by the Anyuak ethnic group.
They and the Murle, who mainly live in neighboring Boma County,
have fought sporadically and the violence, partly motivated by
cattle rustling, has involved ethnic groups from neighboring
Jonglei State.
In late March, youths shot dead 15 people in Pibor, including
Boma's deputy army commander, government officials and the
county commissioner's bodyguards.
Officials also blamed the youths for the killing last year of
another county commissioner in Pibor and a security official.
More than 150 people were killed earlier this year during
conflicts between rival groups in northern and western South
Sudan.
(Editing by George Obulutsa, editing by Ed Osmond)
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