The attack occurred at the Jebel Iraq gold mining site on the outskirts of Juba, South Sudan’s capital, according to the Aweil News Agency and confirmed by AP journalists. The violence erupted following a dispute at the mine, though the precise catalyst remains under investigation. Survivors described panicked scenes as armed men opened fire on civilians gathered at the site, with many fleeing into surrounding bushland as the shooting continued for hours.
South Sudan’s government has yet to issue a formal statement on the incident, and officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The country’s Interim Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management was unavailable for interviews Monday. Authorities in Juba have imposed a media blackout on coverage emanating from the affected area, complicating efforts to verify casualty figures independently.
The mineral-rich Upper Nile region, where Jebel Iraq is located, has long been a hotspot for intercommunal violence over control of mining operations. Artisanal gold mines are often unregulated, with thousands of informal workers operating without state protection. Gangs and militia groups routinely target these sites to steal gold or extort miners, knowing that government security presence is minimal and that justice is rarely delivered.
Human rights groups expressed outrage at the killing. “This is yet another massacre in a region that has seen far too much bloodshed,” said a spokesperson for a Nairobi-based advocacy organization. “The international community cannot continue to treat South Sudan with complacency while civilians are slaughtered for gold.” The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said it was “deeply concerned” and called on authorities to ensure accountability.
The attack is the deadliest single incident in South Sudan since the civil war ended in 2018, and comes amid an already deteriorating security environment across the country. Armed groups have clashed in the Greater Upper Nile region in recent months over cattle raids, boundary disputes, and control of oil fields. The transitional government, already fragile, faces mounting pressure to demonstrate that it can protect its citizens.
South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, has struggled with instability since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011. The 2013-2018 civil war killed nearly 400,000 people and displaced millions. Although a peace agreement was signed in 2018, many provisions remain unimplemented, and political violence continues to plague large parts of the country.
As the death toll from the Jebel Iraq attack continues to rise, survivors and families of the victims are calling for urgent humanitarian assistance. Medical teams have been dispatched to the area, but supplies are reportedly running low. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it was preparing to send additional medical personnel and supplies to the scene.