Attack in South Sudan’s Ruweng leaves 169 dead

At least 169 people were killed in an attack on 1 March in South Sudan’s Ruweng Administrative Area, the BBC and agencies report.

Officials stated that dozens of armed youth entered Abiemnom county before dawn and carried out the assault at around 04:30 local time. The attack targeted civilians and regional security forces.

Ruweng’s Information Minister James Monyluak Mijok confirmed that 90 children, women and elderly people were among those killed, as well as 79 members of regional forces. Fifty others were wounded and most were taken to the neighbouring Abyei Administrative Area for treatment.

Mijok said the attackers came from neighbouring Unity state and alleged they were linked to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO). However, SPLA-IO denied involvement and accused Unity state authorities of politicising the violence.

According to Mijok, government forces on the ground “were outnumbered … during fighting that lasted between three and four hours.” The assailants set fire to homes and markets during the assault. Several senior local officials were also killed, including the county commissioner and the executive director.

Authorities said government forces had since driven the attackers out and that the area was back under its control. The cause of the violence remains unclear.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan reported that about 1,000 civilians sought protection near its base in the affected area. The mission also expressed alarm over the recent surge in violence.

Anita Kiki Gbeho, officer in charge of the mission, warned that “such violence placed civilians at grave risk and must stop immediately.” She added that peacekeepers had increased their security presence and were working with the government to restore stability.

The mission also stated it was providing emergency medical care to at least 23 people wounded in the clashes and called on all parties to cease hostilities and engage in dialogue.

A similar incident in Abiemnom county last year left more than 42 civilians dead.

South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011 and has experienced repeated instability since. A 2018 power-sharing deal between President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar has deteriorated over the past year. The United Nations has warned of the risk of a return to civil war.

 

BBC and agencies, Maghrebi.org