Gunmen have reportedly carried out a deadly attack at a gold mining site in South Sudan near the capital, resulting in the killing of more than 70 individuals over the weekend, according to a police spokesperson. A distressing video depicting numerous bodies scattered on the ground surfaced online, while it is believed that additional victims sought refuge in the surrounding bushes. The location, Jebel Iraq in Central Equatoria State, has a history of violent confrontations involving illegal miners and mining companies. Police spokesperson Kwacijwok Dominic Amondoc indicated that further details regarding the incident will be shared once available, stating that the assailants, whose identity remains unknown, targeted the gold mine, leaving over 70 dead and many others wounded.
The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army – In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) has condemned the attack and pointed fingers at government forces, specifically the SSPDF. The opposition group asserted that the area where the violence occurred falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of the SSPDF, placing the blame squarely on the government forces overseeing the region. However, the army spokesperson declined to provide a statement on the matter when approached by The Associated Press.
In response to the tragic event, the Nile Institute for the Study of Human Rights and Transitional Justice, a local civil rights organization, denounced the attack and emphasized the urgent need for enhanced governance and supervision in regions abundant with resources. The group expressed grave concerns over the violation of the basic right to life and highlighted the ongoing risks faced by civilians in areas lacking adequate security measures and where resource exploitation remains unregulated.
Human rights advocate Edmund Yakani called on the authorities to address the escalating competition among communities vying for natural resources, particularly illegal gold mining activities spread across the country. Yakani urged the government to intervene promptly to curb this detrimental trend and safeguard the well-being of the population.