At Least 169 Killed in South Sudan ‘Surprise’ Attack as Violence Escalates

Published: 3 March 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

At least 169 people were killed when insurgents launched a deadly raid on a village in South Sudan’s Ruweng Administrative Area, local officials have said. The attack occurred on Sunday in Abiemnom county, a remote region of the country that has seen a surge in violence in recent months. The victims included dozens of civilians, with women and children among the dead, local authorities reported.

According to regional officials, the armed group responsible for the raid struck without warning, killing villagers and combatants alike, and forcing hundreds to seek refuge. The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said around 1,000 people took shelter at its base following the assault, describing the violence as a grave threat to civilian safety.

James Monyluak, the information minister for Ruweng, said that in addition to civilians, some local officials were among the casualties. The attack is one of the deadliest in the area in recent years and follows a pattern of escalating violence that has raised fears of renewed civil conflict.

South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, has struggled to maintain stability since a 2018 peace agreement that ended a prolonged civil war. That accord brought former rivals President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar into a unity government, but the arrangement has been strained by ongoing political disputes and intermittent clashes.

The latest attack underscores the fragile security situation in the country. The UN and aid organisations have repeatedly warned that rising hostilities and political fragmentation risk undoing the gains of the peace deal and returning South Sudan to widespread conflict. Humanitarian groups say access to affected areas is increasingly restricted, complicating efforts to assist displaced and vulnerable communities.

International actors, including the United States, have called on leaders in Juba to revive political dialogue aimed at de‑escalating tensions and preventing further loss of life. As violence spreads to previously quieter regions, the prospect of renewed large‑scale civil war remains a significant concern for both regional authorities and global observers.

Read More At>>