In a serious incident of inter-communal violence, at least three people lost their lives, nine others sustained injuries, and more than 4,000 head of cattle were stolen during a raid in Warrap State’s Gogrial East County.

The attacks took place over Thursday and Friday in the Alabek and Lietnhom areas.

Warrap State Minister of Information and Communication Mamer Bath attributed the raid to suspected armed youth from neighboring Unity State.

“The suspected armed youth from neighboring Unity State have raided over 4,000 cows and around three people were killed and nine others were injured,” Bath stated.

In response, Warrap State Deputy Governor Aluel Garang, accompanied by a commander from the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), visited the affected zones.

Forces were subsequently deployed to reestablish security and stabilize the situation.

Officials from Unity State, however, rejected the accusations.

Unity State Minister of Information and Communication Nyakenya Yohannis Keah reported that preliminary findings from their investigation pointed to the perpetrators originating from within Gogrial East County itself.

“We are still investigating the whole thing, but the information I got, the incident has happened within Gogrial East County without involvement from youth in Unity State,” Keah explained.

Gogrial West County Police Inspector Brig. Gen. Mabek Monytoc indicated he was engaged in an ongoing security operation and promised to release additional details on Monday.

Cattle raiding remains a deeply entrenched source of conflict across South Sudan, frequently escalating into cycles of retaliation that result in hundreds of fatalities each year.

These incidents often stem from competition over grazing lands, water resources, and livestock—core elements of pastoralist livelihoods—and have historically strained relations between border communities, including those in Warrap and Unity States.

The latest event highlights persistent challenges in maintaining peace along inter-state borders amid recurring dry-season migrations and resource disputes.

Authorities on both sides continue investigations as tensions simmer in the region.