South Sudan Army Admits Officers’ Responsibility in Killing of 16 Civilians
Edited By: Aminata Diallo
The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces has acknowledged that several of its officers were responsible for the killing of 16 civilians, including eight children and five women, during an attack last month in Jonglei State.
Army spokesperson Lul Ruai Koang confirmed that two officers and several soldiers have been arrested in connection with the incident. He said those involved would face trial before a general military court on charges of murder.
The attack targeted the village of Bankor in Ayod County on February 21, triggering widespread condemnation from the European Union, nine Western embassies, and several local civil society groups. These actors called for a transparent investigation and justice for the victims, warning that communal violence in the region is escalating.
South Sudan has struggled to achieve stability since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011. The country descended into civil war in 2013 after a political dispute between President Salva Kiir and his former vice president Riek Machar.
Although a peace agreement was signed in 2018, leading to the formation of a transitional unity government, clashes between government forces and armed opposition groups resumed in northern Jonglei in December, later spreading to other regions in early 2025.
The political crisis has deepened following the suspension of Riek Machar from his position as First Vice President and his placement under house arrest in March 2025, facing accusations that include murder, treason, and crimes against humanity. Analysts say these developments reveal the fragility of the transitional arrangements established under the 2018 peace deal and highlight persistent divisions within South Sudan’s leadership.
