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Massacre in Jebel Iraq claims 74 lives
At least 74 mine workers were killed over the weekend in a brutal attack in Jebel Iraq, a mineral-rich area southwest of Juba controlled by South Sudan's army. Government and opposition factions have traded accusations over responsibility for the violence.
Conflicting accusations emerge
Paulino Lukudu Obede, acting governor of Central Equatoria state, condemned the killings as a "brutal and barbaric" act by rebel forces but did not specify which group was involved. He stated the government was taking steps to bring perpetrators to justice and prevent further bloodshed.
However, Deputy Information Minister David Yau Yau later accused the Sudan People's Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), led by suspended First-Vice President Riek Machar, of orchestrating the attack. The SPLM-IO was the first to issue a statement condemning the killings, calling them "regrettable, barbaric, and unacceptable."
Opposition points finger at government forces
Machar's spokesperson, Puok Both Baluang, alleged that national army forces were responsible, noting that Jebel Iraq remains under their exclusive control. The army has not responded to these claims. Baluang urged UN bodies to investigate the "Jebel Iraq massacre" and other alleged war crimes across the country.
Machar himself has been under house arrest in Juba since March 2025, facing charges including murder, treason, and crimes against humanity, which he denies.
Government vows action as mining sector reels
Vice-President James Wani Igga condemned the attack as a "heinous massacre," describing the victims as the "backbone of our local economy." He pledged that the government would not tolerate further violence against civilians and called for a formal inquiry to identify the attackers and their motives.
South Sudan's mining sector, rich in gold and other minerals, has seen both legal and illegal operations. Artisanal miners, often working without government approval, are common in the Equatoria region, where the attack occurred.
No group claims responsibility
Despite the accusations, neither the SPLM-IO nor the National Salvation Front-a rebel group active in Central Equatoria-has claimed responsibility for the killings. The lack of clarity has deepened tensions in a country already plagued by conflict.
