A heavily armed Nuer Militia group from Unity State has launched yet another deadly assault in South Sudan, killing more than 20 people including six children.
It seems that the militia group was this time targeting the country’s Lakes State.
This attack marks the fourth attack in less than a month, following three separate raids on Warrap State of South Sudan.
According to reports coming from Juba, the most recent attack occurred during the night of Sunday, May 11, 2025.
The militia reportedly just materialized from nowhere and proceeded to opening fire indiscriminately during the time when almost all residents were deep asleep.
The ambush resulted in killing more than 20 people and injuring at least 35 others.
Among the victims were two girls, two young children, and four others who are still unaccounted for, feared missing or dead.
Local authorities, youth leaders, and traditional chiefs have strongly condemned the attack and are urging the national government in Juba to intervene in order to deescalate the increasingly volatile situation.
Observers and experts in South Sudanese politics believe the attack may be linked to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (IO) and elements within the Nuer community who are pushing for renewed conflict.
This escalation came shortly after Vice President Taban Deng Gai visited both the Lakes and Warrap States.
Political analysts warn that these attacks go beyond mere cattle raiding and may signal a broader agenda. They caution that without immediate military intervention—similar to operations underway in Upper Nile State—the violence could spiral out of control.
Unity State, although governed by a government-aligned official, remains largely unstable and is considered a stronghold for rebel elements. It is the only state in South Sudan predominantly inhabited by the Nuer ethnic group.