Tragic Attack in South Sudan Claims 169 Lives, Including 90 Civilians

The number of fatalities following an assault by unidentified attackers in a town within South Sudan’s Ruweng Administrative Area on Sunday has climbed to 169, up from the previously reported 122, according to the local information minister.

In recent months, violence has surged across the nation as political discord threatens to unravel the tenuous peace agreement forged in 2018.

The recent assault unfolded in Abiemnhom, Ruweng, where youth from Mayom County in neighboring Unity State launched an attack, engaging in battle for over three hours, as reported by Information Minister James Monyluak Majok on Monday.

Among the deceased, 90 are believed to be civilians, while 79 were government soldiers. The minister indicated that the death toll might increase further.

“We anticipate this number could grow because when the attacks occurred, many people fled into the bush, and some individuals remain unaccounted for,” Monyluak explained to Reuters.

He added the government did not know the intention behind the attack.

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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