Fourteen killed, nine injured in attack on Kapoeta North

JUBA – At least 14 people were killed and nine others injured in an attack on Kapoeta North County in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria State on Friday, the county commissioner said.

Kapoeta North County Commissioner David Nayee Lomar condemned the attack, which he said was carried out by armed Murle youth against cattle kraals in Napeikar at around 4 a.m.

He described the assault as “brutal and unprovoked,” saying it targeted civilians, including women and children.

“This reprehensible act resulted in the tragic deaths of fourteen (14) innocent civilians, including women and children, and inflicted serious injuries upon nine (9) others, also including children,” Lomor said in a statement on Saturday.

The attackers also raided 700 head of cattle, exacerbating the hardship faced by the affected community, he said.

Lomor added that the attack was part of a pattern of repeated raids by armed Murle youth, which he said have destabilized communities and undermined efforts for development and peaceful coexistence.

He called on authorities in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) to ensure the immediate return of the stolen cattle and urged the national government to intervene.

“The administration implores the national government to address this recurring issue of cross-border raids. A comprehensive and sustainable solution is imperative to ensure the long-term security and peaceful coexistence of all communities within the region,” he said.

Attempts to reach GPAA Minister of Information and Communication Jacob Werchum Juok for comment were unsuccessful.