Intertribal cattle raid sparks election fear in Sudan
A raid on a south Sudan village that killed seven people and saw 120 houses burned down was the result of cattle raids and revenge attacks, according to the UN. Similar attacks by tribal groups have already killed more than 1,200 people this year. Now there is reason to believe an escalation of such problems could affect national elections next year. The Christian and animist south of the country fought a 20-year civil war with the Islamic north, which ended in 2005. Currently the two sides are arguing over how many votes the south will need to hold a referendum on secession in 2011. The more populated north wants a threshold of 75% of the national vote, mainly because most of the country’s oil is found in the south, while the south wants 50% plus one vote.Read more: Reuters, AFP
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