South Sudan Jonglei attack by Athor rebels ‘killed 200’
George Athor did not attend the January signing ceremonySome 200 people were killed in a “massacre” in south Sudan last week, officials say.
Most of the dead were civilians, including children and others chased into a river by rebels, a minister said.
Previous estimates said that about 100 people had died when fighters loyal to rebel leader George Athor attacked.
The deaths come as the region prepares for independence from the north after last month’s referendum.
Some 99% of people voted to secede from the north.
A senior official of south Sudan’s ruling party accused the north of backing the rebel attacks.
The north has denied previous similar accusations.
The referendum on independence for the oil-rich south was part of a deal to end decades of north-south conflict.
Mr Athor took up arms last year, alleging fraud in state elections, but agreed to a ceasefire last month just before the historic vote.
Security challenges
The south’s Humanitarian Affairs Minister James Kok, who has just returned from the area, told the AP news agency that 201 people, had been killed in what he termed a “massacre”.
“They were chased into the river. I was the one who put them into a mass grave,” he said.
He said nearly 160 of the dead were civilians, such as children, the elderly and refugees.
Another senior official said 197 people had died.
Jonglei is the south’s most populous state.
The BBC’s Peter Martell in the southern capital, Juba, says the fighting is another sign of the challenges the south faces in bringing its people together and improving security.
The week-long referendum vote itself passed off peacefully, but tension remains high in parts of the oil-rich area which straddles the north and south.
Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir has promised to accept the outcome of the referendum.
Southern Sudan is to become the world’s newest independent state on 9 July.
Reaching Africa's Unreached 
This report saddens me, however what most people do not realize is that with the unmitigated fighting in Sudan since 1983 till the present peace agreement, the majority of people killed in the south of Sudan have been killed by southerners who have been backed and armed by the government. My feeling is that the development of a post war South Sudan will be very difficult given fact that Sudan has officially had peace for 10 years during the Addis accords. The Southerners have had a common enemy but as Kerabino Bol and Peter Gadet and Reik Machar or Juma Oris or even Joseph Kony have shown to us that those inside the south and near it southern border are rife for tribal exploitation. Granted the North is much more homogenous in tribe, culture and religion but the South must develop an identity as citizens of South Sudan first before the tribe or sub-tribe or warring faction. If you add the new referendum of southern cessation you simply have a country of rebel commanders with a populace that was often exploited by those same commanders and has very little comprehension of self governance much less good governance. I do however believe that Christ alone can change the heart that changes the family that changes the community that changes the nation.
You are so right! Your words are full of wisdom and discernment, gifts which come from the Lord and from years of ministry in this area of the world. Your last line is powerful, ” I do however believe that Christ alone can change the heart that changes the family that changes the community that changes the nation.” May the Lord grant mercy and grace for without such South Sudan is doomed!
As you so aptly say, it is time for God’s people “TO RUN TO THE BATTLE”
Blessings Brother!