Two people have been killed and dozens of homes torched as two tribal groups fought with traditional weapons in a city in Papua, Indonesia, on 9 and 10 January.

Fatal clashes erupted in the city of Wamena, the capital of Jayawijaya Regency in Papua Province, on 9 January, allegedly over family problems regarding the payment of a dowry.

After that hundreds of people connected to the families of the victims, then attacked the tribal group suspected of having killed their relatives, in Wouma Village.

Hundreds of local soldiers and police who arrived at the scene immediately dispersed the two warring tribal groups by firing warning shots into the air.

Currently, the situation at the scene is calmer, but hundreds of fully armed soldiers and police have been warned to anticipate further communal conflict.

A spokesman for the Papua Regional Police, Commissioner of Police Achmad Mustofa Kamal said that as a result of the war between the two ethnic groups, it was reported that two people died from the Nduga Tribe, while 21 people were injured from the Lany Jaya Tribe and dozens of houses were burned. A number of motorbikes and cars were also burned.

The police and army have tightened security at the scene to avoid any retaliatory attacks.

According to Kamal, the local government has also started dialogue between community leaders to stop the conflict.

War Between Two Tribal Groups In A City In Indonesia Using Traditional Weapons, Two People Killed Dozens Of Houses Burned.

Clashes between two ethnic groups occurred in the city of Wamena, the capital of Jayawijaya Regency, Papua Province for two days (9-10 January 2022). The two ethnic groups clashed allegedly due to family problems regarding the payment of dowry (local custom of paying dowry), which resulted in the death of a resident.

Hundreds of families of the victims who did not accept the death of their relatives then attacked the tribal group in Wouma Village, Waouma District, Jayawijaya Regency who were suspected of having killed their relatives.

Hundreds of local soldiers and police who arrived at the scene immediately dispersed the two warring tribal groups by firing warning shots into the air to disperse the crowd.

Currently, the situation at the scene is getting better, but hundreds of fully armed soldiers and police have been alerted to anticipate further wars between communities.

Spokesman for the Papua Regional Police, Commissioner of Police, Achmad Mustofa Kamal said that as a result of the war between the two ethnic groups, it was reported that two people died from the Nduga Tribe, while 21 people were injured from the Lany Jaya Tribe and dozens of houses were burned. As well as a number of two-wheeled motorized vehicles and cars were burned.

The police and army have carried out tight security at the scene to avoid any retaliatory attacks.

According to Kamal, the local government has also taken a dialogical approach to each of the community leaders to stop the conflict.

Actions of war between groups of citizens or better known in the area as wars between tribes have often occurred.