politics
March 7, 2026
South Sudanese army arrests soldiers accused of killing civilians
South Sudan’s army is investigating its soldiers after 16 civilians including women and children were killed in Jonglei state
TL;DR
- South Sudanese army (SSPDF) has arrested soldiers suspected of killing 16 civilians in Ayod County.
- SSPDF Spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai Koang stated that suspects have been detained and will face a general court martial.
- The exact circumstances of the killings remain unclear.
- The incident occurs against a backdrop of years of political instability and armed conflict in South Sudan since its 2011 independence.
- A 2018 peace agreement has not stopped ongoing clashes driven by local militias and resource disputes.
- Political upheaval, including the arrest of Riek Machar in March 2025, has further complicated the situation.
- Insecurity has displaced hundreds of thousands, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis, with over 2.7 million internally displaced persons by the end of 2025.
- The UN mission in South Sudan warned of rising violence in Jonglei state, forcing over 180,000 people to flee their homes.
- Other regions in South Sudan have also experienced violence, with at least 169 people killed in early March raids in Abiemnhom County.
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