49 killed, 33 injured in attack in South Sudan’s Warrap State

At least 49 people have been killed and 33 others wounded in a deadly armed attack in Tonj North County in South Sudan’s Warrap State, authorities have reported.

According to Warrap State Information Minister, William Wol Mayom Bol, the attack took place at around 5 am on Thursday at Machar-Pakuek cattle camp and Mading Juer Boma in Majak Payam, with people from several communities among the casualties.

Of those killed, 21 were Nuer, 15 Juer, nine Lou-dit, two Palipiny and two Apuk-Padoc. The injured persons included 22 Juer, seven Lou-dit, three Pan-ariik and one Apuk-Padoc.

In a statement, the minister described the incident as a coordinated attack allegedly carried out by an armed cross-border criminal network, with simultaneous assaults reported in Majak and Alabek payams.

“The attack was perpetuated by an armed cross-border, criminal network involving Muer criminals from Naam, Bul-2 in Unity State alongside Pan-ariik sub-clan, Ming, Reng, Aduet, Adok-thok of Akp Payam, who targeted Juer and Loudit in Majak and Alabek Payams respectively,” the statement reads.

The violence has displaced residents from affected communities, according to the state government, which said the situation had created an urgent need for humanitarian assistance.

“Warrap State government calls upon humanitarian organisations and well-wishers to join hands with the state government to respond to the humanitarian catastrophe from the conflict-induced displacement,” the statement reads.

Inter-communal violence is common in South Sudan, where competition among cattle herders over scarce grazing land and water frequently fuels clashes between communities. The widespread availability of firearms among civilians has also contributed to the persistence and escalation of such violence.

The attack comes as South Sudan faces a worsening humanitarian crisis, with nearly 10 million people projected to need humanitarian assistance in 2026, according to the United Nations (UN).

More than 7.5 million people are also expected to require food assistance, while renewed violence has continued to drive displacement and disrupt access to essential services.