More than 74 civilians were killed in an attack by gunmen at a gold mining site in Jebel Iraq, Central Equatoria State, police said Monday, with several others still missing in nearby forests.
Jebel Iraq lies several kilometres west of Juba, within the Wonduruba area.
Brigadier Kwacijwok Dominic Amondoc, official spokesperson for the South Sudan Police Service, told Radio Tamazuj that the deadly attack occurred on Saturday evening, March 28, in Khor Kaltan, a remote area where local residents mine gold.
“The victims were civilians who had gone there to work in the mines. An armed group attacked them, killing more than 74 people. Others are still missing,” Amondoc said.
He added that security forces, including police and the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), have been deployed to patrol the area, secure the site, and conduct rescue operations.
Amondoc said authorities had not yet identified the attackers. Unconfirmed reports suggest there may be a nearby opposition-linked camp, but it remains unclear whether the group was involved.
“There is no clear information yet on who carried out this attack,” he said, adding that investigations are underway as security forces work to secure the area and protect civilians living nearby.
Vice President James Wani Igga on Monday condemned the “heinous massacre” in Khor Kaltan, describing the victims as the “backbone of our local economy.”
“According to unverified assessments, at least 73 local miners have been tragically killed and 25 others seriously injured,” Igga said in a statement. He warned that the death toll could rise as search operations for the missing continue.
Igga, who also chairs the government’s Economic Cluster, directed immediate emergency measures following the attack, including medical evacuation of the 25 survivors, establishment of a formal inquiry to identify the attackers, and reinforcement of security at mining sites and rural trade hubs to prevent further ambushes.
A survivor, Akot Maluil, said on Sunday the attack occurred at around 6 p.m. while civilians were working at the mining site.
“The attackers came in the evening and opened fire on us at the gold mining centre,” he said. “Before they arrived, I had gone to a clinic because I had a wound. When I returned, gunfire was everywhere because we were spread across different mining sites in the bush.”
“I was shot and fell down. After some minutes, the attackers came to where I was lying and thought I was dead. They did not check me because I acted like I was already dead. After they left, I got up, as you can see, I am alive,” he added.
“As I speak to you, there were no government soldiers defending us. The attackers also killed government forces,” he concluded.
Videos and photos showing wounded victims and dead bodies covered with bedsheets and lying in the open in the Jebel Iraq area have been circulating on social media since Sunday afternoon. One video reviewed by Radio Tamazuj shows a man receiving treatment at a hospital in Juba after his eyes were gouged out.
No armed group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which has drawn widespread condemnation for targeting innocent civilians engaged in artisanal mining to survive amid harsh economic conditions.
The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army – In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) condemned the attack on Monday and blamed government forces.
“Jebel Iraq lies within a zone that is entirely under the exclusive control of the SSPDF. Consequently, full responsibility for the massacre rests with the SSPDF forces that control the area,” a statement from the opposition said.
Human rights activist Edmund Yakani urged authorities to address the emerging trend of communities competing for natural resources.
“My appeal is to the government to intervene and stop this culture of illegal gold mining across the country,” he said.
This is not the first time people have been killed in the Jebel Iraq area. The area has witnessed multiple attacks in recent months, often linked to disputes over access to gold deposits.