KHARTOUM: Shelling killed a four-year-old girl and an Ethiopian peacekeeper in the disputed Abyei region between Sudan and South Sudan, the United Nations mission in the area said Friday.
Abyei has been contested since Sudan split into two countries in 2011, and there have been tensions between the Arab Misseriya and Ngok Dinka peoples in the region.
In Thursday's attack, "seven shells were fired from the northwesterly direction of Abyei town, by unknown persons," the UN mission in Abyei.
"Five of the shells landed around the vicinity of the residence of the Ngok Dinka paramount chief and another inside his compound, while the third landed at a nearby primary school," UNISFA said.
"The incident resulted in the death of one Ethiopian military officer and a four-year-old girl from the local community. Three other locals were wounded."
The mission said it had placed several units in the area on high alert.
There are sporadic reports of violence between the Arab Misseriya and the Ngok Dinka peoples in Abyei.
UNISFA condemned the attack, saying it could lead to further violence, labelling it the work of "anti-peace elements who do not want to see peace return to Abyei".
It was not possible to reach the Sudanese military for comment, and the South Sudanese army said they had no information about the shelling.
South Sudan split from Sudan in 2011 under a peace deal signed to end 22 years of bloody civil war in the country.
Comments
Comments are closed.