At least 72 killed in co-ordinated cattle raids in South Sudan's Warrap state

At least 72 people have been killed in co-ordinated cattle raids in South Sudan's northern Warrap state, according to the regional government. The violence took place on Monday in Tonj North county, near the border with Unity state, and involved two communities in the area of Akop Payam. State authorities said cattle were taken and homes were burned in the attack.

Warrap state's information minister, William Wol Mayom Bol, said the assault followed deadly violence last Friday that killed eight people. He said the attack was described as a co-ordinated operation involving members of the Lou Ariik community and those from the Apuk Padoch community. The state governor, Angelo Ngot Mayar, sent condolences to bereaved families and directed security agencies to evacuate the wounded.

Officials said efforts were under way to recover the cattle and identify those responsible for the assault. The state has also appealed to humanitarian partners to support vulnerable women, children and elderly people left without food, shelter and medicine. The scale of the violence is significant because cattle raids in South Sudan are often tied to revenge attacks, local disputes and the role cattle play in wealth, marriage and social status.

The latest killings come as South Sudan prepares for its first election since independence in 2011, a vote that has already been delayed by years of conflict. The country emerged from a brutal civil war that ended in 2018 with a fragile peace deal between President Salva Kiir and his deputy Riek Machar. Tensions between the two leaders have continued to affect the political climate, while local violence remains a persistent security challenge in several states.

The Warrap area has seen repeated deadly attacks in recent months. In August, at least 60 people were killed and 50 injured in an attack in the same area, according to conflict monitors, while a similar attack in March left 58 people dead and 71 injured. Last year, authorities declared a six-month state of emergency in Warrap in an effort to curb the violence, but the latest deaths suggest the underlying disputes remain unresolved.

It is not yet clear who organised the attack or whether any arrests have been made. Authorities have said they are working to recover the stolen cattle and trace those responsible, but they have not given a timeline for those efforts. The immediate focus is on treating the wounded, supporting displaced families and preventing further reprisals in the area.

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