Ahmad 
Officials in South Sudan have confirmed that at least 12 people have been killed and 15 children missing after youths attacked a village in the east of the country.
Abraham Kellang, information minister for Pibor administrative district, said the attack took place in the village of Ajara in Fuchala district on Sunday and also injured 10 other people, mostly elderly, as well as looting livestock.
Otiti Olung, acting provincial commissioner, said the attackers, who belonged to the Murle ethnic group, were suspected of abducting children.
The attack follows a similar incident in late March in which 15 people were killed, including the deputy army chief in Boma and government officials.
Some reports link the renewed violence to preparations for elections to select new leaders to succeed the transitional government.
South Sudan was engulfed in a bloody civil war between 2013 and 2018 that killed hundreds of thousands and is now at a fragile peace between key factions as clashes between armed groups continue.
Ongoing conflicts between rival groups in the north and west of the country claimed more than 150 lives earlier this year, reflecting the scale of the security challenges South Sudan faces on its path to stability and peace.
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