At least 169 people have died in a fresh massacre in northern South Sudan, local officials said on Monday.
The attack happened early Sunday in Abiemnom County, near the border with Sudan. Authorities have buried the victims in a mass grave as the community struggles to recover.
Elizabeth Achol, health minister in the Ruweng administrative area, confirmed the death toll in a phone interview. She said officials laid 169 bodies to rest.
Ruweng Information Minister James Monyluak also confirmed the figure. He said the victims include women, children and elderly people.
However, he warned that the death toll could rise as search teams continue to recover bodies.
Meanwhile, a diplomatic source gave a lower estimate of 70 deaths but agreed that the number may increase as investigations continue.
The South Sudanese government strongly condemned the killings. In a statement, officials described the incident as a “barbaric attack.”
Information Minister Ateny Wek Ateny confirmed that the violence claimed the lives of civilians and law enforcement officers. He also said authorities would investigate the attack thoroughly.
Although early reports suggest an ethnic Nuer group carried out the assault, no group has claimed responsibility.
Following the massacre, many residents fled to nearby villages. Others sought shelter at a local United Nations compound for protection.
Monyluak said government security forces have since deployed to the area. As a result, officials say the situation has stabilised for now.
However, fear remains high among survivors who lost family members and homes.
A spokesperson for the United Nations Mission in South Sudan said peacekeepers are temporarily sheltering about 1,000 civilians at their base.
In addition, the mission is providing emergency medical care to the injured. Humanitarian workers continue to assess urgent needs in the affected community.
The United Nations has repeatedly warned about rising violence in the country.
Clashes between government and opposition forces have intensified in Jonglei state over the past two months. According to the UN, the fighting has displaced about 280,000 people.
Aid workers have also come under attack. On Monday, Doctors Without Borders said 26 staff members went missing after an air strike hit one of its facilities.
As a result, the group suspended medical services in Lankien and Pieri in Jonglei state.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, expressed alarm over the worsening security situation.
He called for urgent action to prevent South Sudan from sliding back into full-scale civil war.
While authorities promise investigations, many citizens fear that continued violence could deepen instability in the young nation.
