In brief
The death toll in Tonj North County’s recent violence has reached 84, including an unprovoked attack on Bundir village that killed 12 residents and left 13 injured. The assault followed Monday’s deadly raid by armed youth from Mayom County, which had already claimed 72 lives. Security forces have been dispatched to restore calm, as the unrest threatens to destabilize the upcoming national elections.
On 29 October 2026, the death toll from fresh communal violence in Tonj North County, South Sudan, surged to 84, an increase announced by the caretaker minister of information and communication services in Warrap State, William Wol Mayom Bol. The latest spike comes from an attack on Bundir village in Akop Payam, where 12 people were killed and 13 others injured.
The brutal assault on Bundir village was described by Wol as "unprovoked" and "coordinated," according to a statement released that day. He added that the attackers burned the village and looted property, further deepening the community's suffering.
Prior to Bundir’s attack, on Monday a separate incident had unfolded in Unity State, when armed youth from neighboring Mayom County entered the area and killed 72 people. This earlier violence set the backdrop for the escalating clashes across the region.
In response to the mounting violence, security forces were deployed to areas of heightened tension, including Tonj North and surrounding counties. Wol appealed for calm and restraint while the government committed to restoring order and tracking down those responsible for the attacks.
These events unfold amid a broader wave of communal violence that has intensified in the months leading up to South Sudan’s scheduled general elections in December. The unrest has raised concerns that the elections could be conducted under unsafe conditions, especially in volatile states such as Lakes, Jonglei, Warrap, Unity and Upper Nile.
For the people of Bundir village and other communities in Tonj North County, the repeated violence threatens not only lives and livelihoods but also the collective identity that binds them. Loss of homes, shattered community cohesion, and disruption of local cultural practices underscore the urgent need for protective interventions that honor indigenous perspectives and priorities.
As the government works to stabilize the region, international observers and local civil society groups continue to watch the situation with caution, urging inclusive dialogue that addresses the root causes of ethnic tension and reinforces the rights of indigenous communities to safeguard their cultural heritage and land.
