Deadly Night Assault in South Sudan
Night-time gunfire shattered the calm of Jebel Boma County, Greater Pibor Administrative Area, at about 11:30 p.m., killing two traders and injuring three others, local authorities report.
Information Minister Jacob Werchum Juk says the assailants melted into surrounding bushland before security forces arrived, complicating immediate pursuit.
Pattern of Violence in Greater Pibor
The attack marks the second assault on Jebel Boma in three weeks, according to Juk.
Earlier this month, unidentified gunmen killed one civilian, wounded another and drove off with 95 head of cattle, livestock later recovered by local trackers.
Authorities Launch Investigation
Regional officials state an inter-service team is collecting shell casings, interviewing witnesses and mapping escape routes to establish the attackers’ identity and motive.
Juk stresses that security agencies are determined to prevent retaliatory violence, urging residents to cooperate with investigators rather than mount private reprisals.
Community Reaction and Resilience
Market chairman Peter Lomira describes the scene as ‘chaotic yet united’, noting neighbours rushed the wounded to a clinic despite heavy rain.
Local elders are organising a peace dialogue, saying commercial life must resume but security patrols should increase during evening hours.
Economic Implications for Border Trade
Jebel Boma lies along an informal corridor linking Greater Pibor to Ethiopian border markets; traders fear repeated disruptions could inflate food prices and erode fragile livelihoods.
Local authorities affirm that maintaining secure trade routes remains a priority for stability across the region.