At least 169 people, including children, women, elderly residents, and security personnel, were killed in a devastating attack in South Sudan on Sunday when a group of unidentified armed men stormed a community in the northern region.
According to James Monyluak Mijok, Information Minister of the Ruweng Administrative Area, the attackers were suspected to be dozens of armed youths who allegedly crossed from neighbouring Unity State and were linked to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition, a claim the group has firmly denied, accusing local authorities of politicising the violence.
The assault reportedly began in the early hours of Sunday at about 04:30 a.m. local time, catching residents off guard while they were still asleep.
Officials said the gunmen overwhelmed government forces on the ground, setting homes and markets ablaze during a fierce confrontation that lasted between three and four hours.
The attack also claimed the lives of several senior local officials, including the county commissioner and executive director.
Authorities confirmed that 79 members of regional security forces, including police officers, were among the dead, while 90 other victims were civilians comprising children, women, and elderly persons. Another 50 people sustained injuries and were evacuated to nearby Abyei Administrative Area for medical treatment.
Officials further alleged possible prior knowledge of the attack by authorities in Unity State, though no response has been issued regarding the accusation.
The violence prompted a humanitarian response, with about 1,000 civilians seeking protection near a base operated by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.
The mission, through acting head Anita Kiki Gbeho, warned that the surge in violence poses grave risks to civilians and must be halted immediately. Peacekeepers have since intensified their protective presence and are providing emergency medical assistance to at least 23 wounded victims.
Local reports indicated that the victims were buried in a mass grave due to the overwhelming number of casualties and persistent security concerns.
The incident mirrors previous violence in the region, including a similar attack in Abiemnom county last year that left more than 42 civilians dead.
The violence comes amid growing instability across the country, where years of civil conflict have strained peace efforts between President Salva Kiir Mayardit and opposition leader Riek Machar, whose 2018 power-sharing agreement has increasingly weakened.
Humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières also reported that 26 of its staff members were missing following weeks of escalating violence, leading to the suspension of medical services in parts of Jonglei state after its facility was struck during an airstrike.
The United Nations has repeatedly warned that the deteriorating security situation could push the country back into full-scale civil war if urgent dialogue and restraint are not prioritised.
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