At least 169 people have been killed following an insurgent raid on a remote village in South Sudan, according to local officials, in the latest surge of violence threatening the country’s fragile peace.
The attack occurred on Sunday in Abiemnom county, within the Ruweng Administrative Area. James Monyluak, the Area’s information minister, said 90 civilians were among the dead, including women and children, as well as dozens of combatants.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) reported that about 1,000 people sought refuge at its base following the assault. The mission also cited 23 wounded and expressed concern over reports that dozens of civilians and local officials had lost their lives. “Such violence places civilians at grave risk and must stop immediately,” said Anita Kiki Gbeho of UNMISS, urging all parties to cease hostilities and engage in dialogue.
Stephano Wieu De Mialek, chief administrator of Ruweng, alleged that elements linked to the White Army militia, alongside forces affiliated with Riek Machar’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition, carried out what he described as a coordinated act of rebellion. Machar’s group denied involvement, stating it has no military presence in the area.
The violence forms part of a broader escalation as forces loyal to President Salva Kiir clash with armed groups believed to support Machar. Machar, who was removed as Kiir’s deputy in September and now remains under house arrest in Juba, faces criminal charges his supporters say are politically motivated. His removal coincided with a renewed spike in fighting.
The unrest has intensified since December, when opposition forces seized government outposts in Jonglei state. The United Nations estimates that approximately 280,000 people have been displaced amid the latest clashes.
The conflict threatens a 2018 peace agreement that ended a five-year civil war and established a unity government, with Machar serving as first vice president. However, a UN inquiry has warned that the accord is being systematically undermined.
Government forces have mounted a counteroffensive since January, including aerial bombardments and ground assaults, even as officials publicly reaffirm their commitment to the peace process.