A violent dispute over a gold mining site on the outskirts of Juba has left more than 70 people dead and dozens more injured, marking one of the deadliest resource-driven clashes in recent months.
The attack occurred over the weekend at the Jebel Iraq mining site in Central Equatoria State, an area long plagued by tensions between local artisanal miners and commercial interests. Police spokesperson Kwacijwok Dominic Amondoc confirmed the staggering death toll on Monday, though he noted that the full extent of the tragedy is still being assessed.
“Unknown gunmen attacked Jebel Iraq at a gold mine,” Amondoc stated. “There are more than 70 dead and many more injured.”
The massacre has sparked immediate political friction. The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army – In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) issued a blistering condemnation on Monday, pointing the finger directly at government forces.
“Jebel Iraq lies within a zone that is entirely under the exclusive control of the SSPDF (South Sudan People’s Defence Forces),” the opposition statement read, asserting that the government must be held accountable for the security breach. The national army spokesperson has declined to comment on the allegations.
Local journalists and witnesses report a harrowing scene, with video footage circulating online showing dozens of bodies scattered across the open mining grounds. Many survivors are believed to have fled into the surrounding bush to escape the gunfire, leading to fears that the death toll could rise as more victims are discovered.
The Jebel Iraq site has a history of volatility. As South Sudan struggles to stabilize its economy, its vast mineral wealth—specifically gold—has become a flashpoint for unregulated exploitation and violent competition.
Civil rights organizations are now calling for an end to the “security vacuum” in resource-rich regions. The Nile Institute for the Study of Human Rights and Transitional Justice described the attack as a “grave violation of the right to life,” urging the government to establish effective oversight to prevent illegal mining from fueling further bloodshed.
Human rights activist Edmund Yakani joined these calls, emphasizing that without state intervention, the competition for natural resources will continue to cost civilian lives.
“My appeal is to the government to intervene and stop this culture of illegal gold mining across the country,” Yakani said.
As of Monday evening, security forces remained deployed in the area, though no arrests have been announced. The incident highlights the fragile state of security in South Sudan, where the scramble for gold continues to outpace the reach of the law.
