A prominent tribal leader in the disputed Sudanese territory of Abyei has been shot dead in an incident involving a rival Arab militia.
Kual Deng Majok, the chief of the Dinka ethnic group, was killed during a stand-off between the Arab Misseriya militia and UN peacekeepers.
There were also reports of UN forces being wounded.
Oil-rich Abyei abuts both Sudan and South Sudan – which seceded in 2011 – and is claimed by the two countries.
The conflict is rooted in a dispute over land between farmers of the pro-South Sudan Dinka Ngok people and cattle-herding Misseriya Arab nomads in the north.
As a result, Abyei remains under the administration of an interim UN security force.
Saturday’s incident began when a convoy of South Sudanese officials looking into the future of Abyei was surrounded by the Arab militia, and the UN tried to secure their release.
A source told media “The top Dinka leader, Kual Deng Majok, was killed… after he was attacked by Misseriya.”
A Misseriya chief also confirmed the death.
“A group of Misseriya stopped the convoy and started negotiations. Then a clash happened when a [UN] soldier shot one of the Misseriya who was readying his weapon,” the unnamed chief said.
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