At least 169 people were killed in a pre-dawn surprise attack in South Sudan's Ruweng Administrative Area on Sunday. Authorities allege dozens of armed youth from neighboring Unity state, linked to the Sudan People's Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), carried out the assault.
The deceased include 90 children, women, and elderly civilians, along with 79 regional force members. Fifty others were wounded. The attackers reportedly set fire to homes and markets during the hours-long conflict before being driven out by government forces. Local officials have accused Unity state authorities of complicity, an accusation Unity state has not yet responded to.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (Unmiss) reported that approximately 1,000 civilians sought protection near its base. The mission expressed alarm at the surge in regional violence and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. Peacekeepers are providing medical aid, and victims were reportedly buried in a mass grave due to the high casualty count and ongoing security concerns.
This incident follows a similar attack in Abiemnom county last year that killed over 42 civilians. In a separate development, the medical charity MSF has suspended services in two locations in Jonglei state after 26 staff members went missing amidst escalating violence.