Authorities in South Sudan say at least 169 people were killed in a large and deadly attack on a remote area in the country’s north. The violence unfolded when dozens of armed men stormed parts of the Ruweng Administrative Area, targeting communities and local officials. Among those killed were senior political figures, according to regional authorities.
Officials alleged that the attackers came from neighbouring Unity State and suggested possible links to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), one of the main armed groups involved in South Sudan’s protracted conflict. The SPLA-IO has denied any role in the assault and accused local leaders of politicising the incident.
The United Nations has repeatedly warned that South Sudan remains at risk of sliding back into wider civil war despite a fragile peace agreement signed to end years of fighting. While large-scale conflict has eased compared to previous years, clashes between rival groups and inter-communal violence continue in several regions.
The violence also comes amid wider concerns about the treatment of Christian communities in neighbouring Sudan, where churches have reportedly been damaged or seized during the ongoing conflict. Christian leaders and advocacy groups say believers often face intimidation, restrictions on worship and displacement as fighting between rival forces continues. Religious organisations have called for stronger international protection for vulnerable minorities caught in the crossfire.