73 Killed in South Sudan Gold Mine Attack

At least 73 people were killed in a deadly attack on a gold mining site near South Sudan’s capital, Juba, following a dispute over control of the mine, officials said.

Police reported that unidentified gunmen assaulted over the weekend at a mining site in the Jebel Iraq area of Central Equatoria State, an area previously marked by violent clashes between illegal miners and commercial operators.

Authorities said dozens of victims were found at the scene, while others fled into the surrounding bushland to escape the violence.

Police spokesperson Kuasijok Dominic Amondok said the attackers remain unidentified and that further details will be released as the investigation progresses.

South Sudan’s vice president James Wani Igga confirmed the death toll and reported that at least 25 others were seriously injured, stressing the need for urgent medical evacuation and treatment.

The opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Army condemned the attack and blamed government forces, a claim that has yet to be independently verified.

An official investigation is underway to determine the identities and motives of those responsible for one of the deadliest incidents linked to mining disputes in the country.