At least 74 people have been killed in an attack by unidentified armed men at a gold mining site in Central Equatoria State of Juba, a local official confirmed on Monday.
According to Kwacijwok Dominic Amandoch, spokesperson for the South Sudan National Police Service, the incident took place on the evening of March 28 in a mining area of Jebel Iraq, where civilians were engaged in gold mining activities. He said an unknown armed group attacked the site, leaving more than 74 people dead, while several others remain missing in nearby forested areas.
Security forces, including police and the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces, have been deployed to the area to assess the situation, conduct patrols, and carry out rescue operations. Authorities said 11 bodies have so far been transferred to a mortuary, with efforts ongoing to locate the missing.
The spokesperson noted that the death toll may rise as search operations continue. Authorities have yet to determine the identity of the attackers, despite unverified reports suggesting the presence of an opposition-linked camp near the location.
Eyewitness accounts indicated that the attackers opened fire sporadically, causing panic and forcing people to flee the scene.