62 killed including 20 women in South Sudan communal violence

JUBA — At least 62 people, including 20 women, have been killed, and 36 injured in fresh communal violence in Tonj East County of Warrap State in South Sudan, a local official said on Saturday.

Mamer Bath Marol, Warrap State Information Minister, said the fighting, which erupted between 28 and 29 May 2025 in Tonj East County, resulted in several houses being burnt to ashes, property looted, and 30,000 families displaced.

“The latest clashes in Tonj East County, which have left 62 dead, among them 20 women, and 36 others wounded, as well as the displacement of over 30,000 households to Wunyiik Akok Payam, Pabuong, and Alatiep Wunlit Payam,” Moral said in a statement extended to on Saturday.

The motives behind the deadly violence remain unknown.

Marol said the state government learned with dismay of the unfortunate violent clashes between the Luacjang and Jalwau communities of Tonj East County.

He said the clashes have resulted in the destruction of properties worth millions of South Sudanese pounds.

“As the government of Warrap state, we strongly condemned the killing of innocent people and destruction of properties perpetrated by enemies of peace and urged both parties to these groundless clashes to refrain from orchestrating further escalation.”

“Equally, the government of Warrap State is extremely distressed by the loss of lives and properties and extends wholehearted condolences to the bereaved families and victims of those baseless clashes,” he said.

He appealed to communities involved in the clashes to refrain from carrying out any further attacks.

“We are calling on communities to end this violence, particularly families affected by this uncalled-for demise and destruction, to remain calm as we sort out the mess created by this vicious vice.”

He assured the public of the government’s readiness to investigate the underlying causes of the incident and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

“As a state government, we reiterate our commitment to maintaining peace and harmony among our communities and assure the public, especially victims of this violence, that the Warrap state government will investigate the root causes of the incident and hold the perpetrators accountable,” he said.

“Again, we would like to reiterate our assurance to the public that the security situation has returned to normalcy in Tonj East County and that the government of Warrap State will leave no stone unturned regarding this round of violence.”

He appealed to humanitarian actors to address the urgent humanitarian situation in Tonj East County by providing humanitarian aid to the victims of the violence.

“We are appealing to both the national government and humanitarian actors to assess the humanitarian needs of the areas and rescue the situation by extending humanitarian support to the victims of clashes in the affected parts of Tonj East County,” he said.

Warrap State frequently experiences deadly communal clashes in the form of cattle raiding and revenge killings.

sudanspost.com