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South Sudan: Islamic extremists kill 28 in attack on Christian community

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Islamic extremists killed people in an attack on a Christian community in South Sudan earlier this month, burning down 57 homes in the same attack, Barnabas Fund reports.

South Sudan seceded from Sudan in 2011, attaining independence after two devastating civil wars that were fought over religious identity. Sixty percent of the South Sudan population identifies as Christian, but there is increasing concern about Islamic attacks on believers in the country of 11 million people.

The massacre in early January took place at Yith Pabol in South Sudan’s Aweil East county. “The incident is the latest example of attacks against South Sudanese Christians by Arab Muslims from the Republic of Sudan, along the disputed border between the two countries,” Barnabas Fund said.

In a 6 January statement to Barnabas Fund, Bishop Joseph Mamer Manot referred to the aftermath of the attack: “Massive displacement has happened, and the humanitarian situation is alarming as food and other property have been burned down into ashes, leaving survivors with no shelters, no food and no safe drinking water.”

According to Barnabas Fund, Islamic militants carried out a similar attack in the same week in nearby Miodol village, killing at least four people. “South Sudanese armed forces have been deployed to the region in an attempt to maintain the peace,” Barnabas Fund said.