Over 160 Killed in Armed Attack in South Sudan

Kigali, March 8, 2026 - At least 169 people, including security personnel, were killed when unidentified gunmen attacked the Abiemnom district in Ruweng State, South Sudan, in the early hours of March 1, 2026.

According to Ruweng State Information Minister James Monyluak Mijok, the attackers are believed to be fighters linked to the Sudan-based SPLA-IO, who launched a coordinated assault on the area.

Mijok said the militants engaged in intense clashes with local security forces for several hours, with the fighting lasting between four and five hours. During the attack, homes and shops were set on fire, causing widespread destruction.

Among the 169 victims were children, women, elderly civilians and members of the state’s security forces, including police officers, the minister said.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) reported that the violence forced around 1,000 civilians to flee their homes, while 23 injured people have been treated following the attack.

UNMISS said that after the fighting subsided, it began working with South Sudanese security forces to help restore stability and security in the Abiemnom area.