An assault on a gold mining site in South Sudan, one of the poorest and most unstable nations globally, resulted in the deaths of at least 73 individuals and left 25 others wounded, the country’s vice president confirmed. The attack occurred over the weekend at Khor Kaltan, a mining area located approximately 70 kilometers southwest of the capital city, Juba.
Vice President James Wani Igga issued a statement emphasizing the tragic loss of life among local miners and the urgent need to provide medical treatment and evacuation for the injured. He also called for a formal investigation to identify the perpetrators and understand their motives, referring to them as ‘unidentified assailants.’
A security official, speaking anonymously, corroborated the death toll, while a diplomatic source estimated fatalities to be between 75 and 86. Since its independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan has been plagued by recurrent violent conflicts, particularly between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those allied with First Vice President Riek Machar, especially in Jonglei State to the central east.
The security official suggested that Machar’s opposition forces were likely responsible for the attack but acknowledged that reports were inconclusive. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Machar, who has been under house arrest for the past year, denied any involvement by his forces and instead accused the South Sudanese army of carrying out the assault.
