In brief
- Death toll from an attack by a group of unidentified men in a town in South Sudan continues to mount.
- Violence underscores UN concerns of instability since the 2025 arrest of former first vice president Riek Machar.
The tragic aftermath of a violent assault in South Sudan’s Ruweng Administrative Area has seen the death toll climb to 169, escalating from an initial count of 122. This grim update comes from James Monyluak Majok, the area’s information minister, following the brutal events of Sunday.
South Sudan has been grappling with escalating violence, exacerbated by political tensions that threaten the delicate peace accord established in 2018. This recent surge in unrest underscores the fragility of the country’s current state.
The attack unfolded in the town of Abiemnhom, located in Ruweng, when a group of youths from Mayom County in nearby Unity State descended upon the area. The ensuing conflict raged for over three hours, according to Minister Majok’s statement on Monday.
The casualties include 90 civilians and 79 government soldiers, with fears that these numbers may still rise. The minister highlighted that many residents fled into the bush during the chaos, and some people remain unaccounted for, adding to the uncertainty of the final toll.
“We suspect the numbers could increase because numerous individuals ran for safety into the bush during the attacks,” Majok conveyed to Reuters, reflecting the ongoing concern for those missing.
At present, the government remains in the dark regarding the attackers’ motivations, leaving officials to speculate on the underlying causes of this devastating incident.
The information minister of Unity State, Nyakenya Johannes Keah, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The violence highlights concerns, including from the United Nations, of deepening instability since the arrest of former first vice president Riek Machar a year ago.
President Salva Kiir signed a peace agreement with Machar in 2018 to end five years of civil war that left an estimated 400,000 dead.
But implementation of the deal has been slow and the opposing forces have clashed frequently over disagreements about how to share power.
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