73 Killed in Gunmen Attack on South Sudan Gold Mine

At least 73 people were killed and 25 others seriously injured when unknown gunmen attacked a gold mining site near Juba, South Sudan, over the weekend, officials confirmed on Monday.

The assault targeted the Jebel Iraq mining area in Central Equatoria State, approximately 70 kilometers southwest of the capital. Vice President James Wani Igga described the incident as a tragedy in a statement, noting that the victims were local miners. "We must provide urgent medical care and evacuation for the 25 injured," Igga said, adding that authorities would launch a formal inquiry to identify the assailants and their motives. A police spokesperson, Kwacijwok Dominic Amondoc, reported more than 70 deaths and numerous injuries, attributing the attack to unknown gunmen. He promised additional details as investigations progressed.

A video circulating online showed dozens of bodies on open ground at the site, while a local journalist indicated that many survivors had fled into nearby bushes to escape the violence. The Jebel Iraq area has a history of clashes involving illegal miners and disputes over resource access, exacerbated by the largely unregulated nature of gold mining in South Sudan....