At least 169 killed, buried in mass grave as violence surges in South Sudan
No fewer than 169 people have been killed and buried in a mass grave in northern South Sudan following a deadly attack, local officials have confirmed.
The killings occurred early Sunday in Abiemnom, located in Ruweng Administrative Area, amid a fresh surge of violence across the troubled nation.
Elizabeth Achol, health minister in Ruweng Administrative Area, told AFP by telephone on Monday that “a total of 169 bodies have been laid to rest in a mass grave”.
The area’s information minister, James Monyluak, confirmed the death toll, warning that the figure could rise if more bodies are discovered.
“The dead include women, children and elderly people,” Monyluak said, adding that about 50 others sustained injuries and were transferred to medical facilities in Abyei and Warrap State for treatment.
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A diplomatic source told AFP that preliminary information suggested the attack was carried out by a Nuer group, possibly in retaliation for the killing of some traders. However, no group has claimed responsibility for the incident.
South SudanSudan has witnessed a sharp escalation in violence in recent months, as forces loosely aligned with the opposition clash with government troops loyal to President Salva Kiir.
The renewed fighting has displaced thousands of civilians across the country.
Monyluak said many residents fled to nearby villages following the attack, while others sought refuge at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) compound in the county.
“The security situation has since stabilised, with government security forces deployed and now in control of the area,” he added.
A spokesperson for UNMISS confirmed that peacekeepers were temporarily sheltering about 1,000 civilians at their base and providing emergency medical care to the injured.