(Bor) – More than three weeks after a deadly attack that left at least 13 people dead and over 20 wounded in Jonglei State’s Twic East County, state authorities have confirmed that no arrests have been made and no new security forces have been sent to the affected area.
The violence occurred in the first week of June when armed youth, allegedly from the Hol community in neighbouring Duk County, launched an assault on Buothagany Island, a fishing settlement inhabited by members of the Ayual community from Twic East. The island remains under the control of armed groups from Duk, according to local leaders.
Jonglei State Police Commissioner Maj. Gen. John Baak said the security situation remains tense and unchanged. “There is no one arrested yet, and up to now, there is no update in the area,” he told Radio Tamazuj. “It is only the local police who were already there that are still there.”
Twic East County Commissioner Juach Arok confirmed that Ayual community members displaced by the violence on 4 June have not returned to their homes. “The area is still under the control of Duk County and their allies,” he said. “Those who were missing are still missing. We have not confirmed whether they are dead or alive.”
The State Minister of Law Enforcement, Simon Hoth, said logistical difficulties have prevented the deployment of additional forces to restore order. No timeline was provided for when reinforcements might be sent or whether investigations would begin.
Community leaders and observers say the violence may have been a retaliatory act. One of the main unresolved issues cited is the killing of prominent local wrestler Deng Dau—commonly known as Deng-Moradong—in October 2023. His death, allegedly at the hands of Duk youth, continues to fuel animosity and acts of revenge between the Hol and Ayual communities.
In July 2024, the situation further deteriorated when members of the Hol community broke into Bor Central Prison and freed detainees arrested in connection with earlier clashes. The incident worsened public confidence in the justice system and has been interpreted by some as a sign of selective law enforcement. Critics say the state government has not shown equal commitment to prosecuting suspects from all communities.
Bol Deng Bol, Executive Director of INTREPID South Sudan and chairperson of the Jonglei Civil Society Network, has called on the government to intervene immediately. “Government is the only mediator that is viable now to settle this situation, because we never know, in the next few minutes, in the next month, the same thing will happen,” he warned. “As we speak, intercommunal violence in Jonglei State has spiked in the last few months. This is because there are no tangible and impactful efforts put in place to resolve the conflicts over time.”
Communal violence continues to plague Jonglei State, driven by long-standing ethnic divisions, disputes over land and resources, impunity for past attacks, and weak enforcement by state institutions. Analysts warn that without meaningful intervention and accountability, cycles of violence are likely to intensify and further undermine peacebuilding efforts across the region.
No compensation or humanitarian support to affected families was mentioned in the report, and the state has yet to provide any information regarding this.
