Fresh clashes in Jonglei State’s Twic East County over the weekend left ten people dead, four wounded, and one person missing, according to local officials.
The latest attack in a series of long-running intercommunal clashes occurred in Lang in Lith Payam.
Twic East County Commissioner Juac Arok accused armed individuals from neighboring Duk County of carrying out the assault.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, Arok said the attack, which took place around 4 a.m. on Saturday, targeted a group of people who were fishing and displaced thousands of vulnerable residents from a nearby preaching ground.
“The incident caused significant damage and casualties,” he explained. “As of this afternoon, ten bodies have been recovered, with one person still missing and four others wounded. Among the dead and wounded are women.”
Meanwhile, Duk County Commissioner John Chatim confirmed the incident but said he lacked details about casualties.
“The incident occurred in a land between the people of Adhiok and the people of Duk Padiet. We have heard that there are casualties on both sides, but up to now, I do not know the details,” he said. “We condemn the incident and urge the communities to embrace peaceful coexistence.”
Both commissioners acknowledged their inability to contain the conflict and called for urgent intervention from state and national authorities.
The violence is believed to be rooted in a cycle of retaliatory attacks, with unresolved grievances, including the October 2023 killing of prominent wrestler Deng Dau, who was allegedly killed by youth from Duk County.
Jonglei State Law Enforcement Minister Simon Hoth cited logistical challenges in deploying joint security forces to the area. However, critics accuse the state government of failing to hold perpetrators accountable, pointing to an incident in July 2024 when members of the Hol Community broke into Bor Central Prison and freed detainees linked to earlier clashes.
Bol Deng Bol, executive director of Intrepid South Sudan, said it is clear that the Government of Jonglei State has failed to address the communal conflicts, in particular, the conflict between some Twic East and Duk communities. He said these conflicts started in 2023 and have since escalated, involving other communities within the counties today, while the government promises to mediate a settlement in vain.
“I want to appeal to the national peacebuilding ministry to intervene and find appropriate means to peacefully settle the conflicts,” Deng said. “Failure to act on time will further jeopardize coexistence amongst the communities in Jonglei State.”