Deadly armed raid on cattle camp in South Sudan kills at least 49

At least 49 people have been killed and 33 others wounded after gunmen raided a village and seasonal cattle camp in Warrap State in north-western South Sudan, local officials said. The attack took place early on Thursday in Tonj North County, hitting Machar-Pakuek cattle camp and Mading Juer Boma in Majak Payam. Officials said the assault is the latest in a series of violent cattle raids in an area long affected by competition over grazing land and water.

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Warrap State spokesperson William Wol Mayom Bol said the attack was carried out by what he described as an armed cross-border criminal network. He said the local government condemned the violence and extended condolences to the families of those killed. The authorities also appealed for restraint and called on humanitarian organisations to help respond to what they described as a humanitarian catastrophe linked to conflict-induced displacement.

The scale of the casualties makes the raid one of the deadliest recent incidents in the area. It comes barely three weeks after another attack in the same locality that left 60 people dead and 50 wounded, underlining the persistence of armed cattle-raiding violence in the region. South Sudan has for years faced recurring clashes tied to livestock theft, local rivalries and access to scarce resources, with civilians often bearing the brunt of the violence.

The incident also carries wider significance because it comes amid continuing concern over communal violence in Warrap State. Earlier this month, the head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan expressed concern about the cycle of violence in places such as Warrap. Last year, President Salva Kiir declared a six-month state of emergency across South Sudan in response to a surge in violent inter-communal cattle raids, reflecting the seriousness of the security challenge.

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Warrap State and Tonj North County have repeatedly featured in reports of cattle-related attacks, making the area a persistent flashpoint. Seasonal cattle camps are especially vulnerable because they bring herders, livestock and armed groups into close proximity during periods of resource stress. The repeated attacks also raise concerns about displacement, access to aid and the ability of local authorities to protect remote communities.

It remains unclear who carried out the raid and whether any arrests have been made. Officials have described the attackers in broad terms, but have not provided further details on the group's composition or motive. The immediate focus is likely to be on medical care for the wounded, support for displaced families and whether security forces can prevent further attacks in the area.

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