37 killed in reprisal attack in South Sudan's Warrap state

At least 37 people died and over 18 were injured in an attack in South Sudan's Warrap state on Sunday, local sources told EFE. The violence is described as retaliation for a previous attack that killed 15 people approximately two weeks ago.

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What happened was a retaliatory attack. About two weeks ago, an attack occurred in the area of those who attacked today, in which 15 people died.

Bol Deng, the information minister for Warrap state, stated that the attack occurred early Sunday in the Tonj North county. It targeted members of a community accused of carrying out the earlier deadly attack. Deng explained that security forces have been unable to arrest the suspects from the previous incident due to poor road conditions caused by heavy rains and a scarcity of police resources.

The Warrap state authorities have requested immediate intervention from the national government in Juba to help contain the violence and bolster the state's security response. Warrap has a history of recurrent intercommunal violence, particularly in the Greater Tonj region. Disputes over livestock, grazing land, and other local grievances frequently trigger retaliatory raids and attacks, creating cycles of violence that local authorities find difficult to control, especially in remote areas with poor infrastructure and limited security presence.

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The security forces have not been able to arrest the suspects...

Despite the 2018 peace agreement that ended the country's civil war, South Sudan continues to face widespread localized violence. Cattle-related clashes and revenge killings remain a significant source of insecurity in several states.

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Warrap authorities had requested the national government in Juba for immediate intervention to help contain the violence and reinforce the state's security response.