Writer: Deng Athian
Nine people were killed in a new attack at Jebel Iraq last night, according to witnesses at the site. Witnesses said armed men attacked gold miners, killing nine people before leaving the area.
The motive for the attack remains unknown, and no group has claimed responsibility for the incident.
All nine victims were natives of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State. Five were from Aweil South, three from Aweil East and one from Aweil North.
Witnesses also reported that several other people are missing following the attack. They said the bodies of those killed had not yet been collected from the site, raising concerns among relatives and other miners in the area.
The latest attack comes months after more than 70 people were reportedly killed at Khor Kaltan, another gold-mining site in Jebel Iraq, earlier this year. Several others were injured in that incident, which also raised concerns about the safety of miners and civilians operating in the area.
Following the repeated attacks, miners and residents have called on the government to deploy security forces to Jebel Iraq and strengthen protection at the mining sites.
The government has not yet issued an official statement on last night’s attack or confirmed the reported casualties and missing persons.
Further details are expected as authorities and local sources provide more information.