South Sudan’s Ruweng Hit by Deadly Attack, Toll Rises to 169 Ruweng, South Sudan — March 2, 2026 At least 169 people, including 82 children, women, and the elderly, have been killed in a recent attack on Abiemnhom County in South Sudan’s Ruweng Administrative Area, local officials have confirmed.
The attack, which also left 50 others injured, came as a group of armed men from Mayom County in neighboring Unity state stormed the area on Sunday, according to the region’s information minister, James Monyluak Mijok. Confirmed Casualties and Injuries.
In a press briefing on Monday, Mijok told Reuters news agency that the dead included the county commissioner and the executive director. “I would like to sadly inform you that among those killed included the county commissioner and the executive director, “he. All 169 bodies were laid to rest in a mass grave on Monday, with Mijok warning that the death toll could rise if more bodies are discovered.
Government and UN Reactions.
The Government of the Ruweng Administrative Area (GRAA) has strongly condemned the attack, calling it a “barbaric action and policy of extermination “and comparing it to genocide. Mijok also called on the government of Unity state to bring the culprits to justice.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) expressed alarm over the surge in violence in Abiemnhom, reporting that 23 people were injured in an attack there.
In response, peacekeepers are sheltering over 1,000 civilians within the UNMISS base and providing emergency medical care. Historical Context and Current Concerns.
The attack comes amid ongoing instability in South Sudan, a country that has faced deepening concerns since the arrest of former First Vice President Riek Machar a year ago. Despite a peace agreement signed by President Salva Kiir and Machar in 2018, the implementation of the deal has been slow, and opposing forces have clashed frequently over disagreements about how to share power. International Response.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has also reported a surge in violence in Jonglei state, where 26 of its staff members are currently unaccounted for. MSF has suspended medical services in Lankien and Pieri, both in Jonglei, which have seen major clashes between government and opposition forces since December. What Remains Unclear.
Further details about the identities of the attackers and the motive behind the attack remain unclear. Officials have not yet commented on the matter, and further details are expected to be released in the coming days.
