At least 40 people were killed and 66 wounded in clan fighting on Monday in Warrap State, according to the state government.

Paul Dhol, Warrap State Minister of Information and Communications said the fighting broke out within the Luanyjang section which is divided between Adeel and Thuch clans. It began with a disagreement over the abduction of a woman.

The minister said that the Thuch clan went and took a woman from the Adeel clan with the plan of marrying her to one of their family.

“As a result the Adeel did not wait to follow the system to handle the case but they went and attacked the Thuch family who eloped their lady, then the fighting happened where on Adeel side 16 people are confirmed dead while on Thuch side 24 people were killed and 66 wounded from both sides,” Dhol stated.

He was speaking from the Tonj East county headquarters where a high-level delegation including the deputy governor of Warrap paid a visit to attempt to calm down the situation.

According to the minister, the situation has since stabilized because police forces and SPLA are in the area to arrest the culprits who incited problem.

The minister declined to say whether the mentioned death toll included any women or children. 

File photo