At least 35 people were killed and 46 others wounded in a brutal cattle raid on January 31, when unidentified attackers stormed four cattle camps in South Sudan’s southeastern region, a community leader confirmed on Sunday.
Mayom Ateny, a local leader, revealed that the attacks targeted Dinka Bor cattle camps, resulting in massive losses and the theft of approximately 11,000 head of cattle. The assaults occurred in Magwi County, located in Eastern Equatoria state, an area that has witnessed recurrent tensions between cattle keepers and farming communities.
Authorities, including Magwi County Commissioner Olum Pole Pole Ataruk and Eastern Equatoria State Information Minister Elia John Ahaji, have yet to comment on the incident.
Cattle raiding, fueled by competition for scarce resources, has long been a major source of violence in South Sudan. The country, still recovering from a devastating civil war (2013–2018), remains awash with weapons, making such conflicts more lethal. Livestock, particularly cattle, are considered a symbol of wealth and social status and play a central role in cultural practices, including bride price payments.
Nicholas Haysom, head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), strongly condemned the attack and the ongoing violence between cattle herders and farming communities in Eastern Equatoria.
“Such attacks and counter-attacks must stop,” Haysom urged in a statement, calling for restraint and peaceful conflict resolution mechanisms.
Despite a peace agreement among the main warring factions in 2018, localized clashes persist, with heavily armed groups engaging in deadly raids, often leaving behind trails of destruction and displacement. The latest attack underscores the fragility of South Sudan’s security situation and the urgent need for stronger conflict prevention measures.
