At least 71 people, including four soldiers, have been killed in inter-communal violence in Rumbek, the capital of South Sudan’s Lakes State, according to the country’s interim government.
The violence erupted around 4 a.m. on Friday, October 9, 2026, when armed civilians clashed in the central town. The Ministry of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services said the death toll was based on preliminary security reports, adding that the exact number of casualties remained unconfirmed.
Witnesses told the AFP news agency that the clashes were linked to ethnic and community tensions. Some residents said young people from outside Rumbek attempted to take control of the town before police and military reinforcements arrived, forcing the attackers to withdraw towards areas outside the city.
The fighting reportedly followed an earlier outbreak of violence in Nyangkot village, on the outskirts of Rumbek Central County, on Thursday. Local officials said four people were killed in the initial clashes, while the violence later spread into residential neighbourhoods, forcing residents to flee to nearby villages.
The government said it had deployed additional security personnel from the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces, the National Security Service and the national police to restore order. Authorities said the situation was under control and confirmed the arrest of four armed civilians, with four firearms reportedly recovered.
The interim government condemned the violence and urged communities in Lakes State to remain calm, exercise restraint and avoid retaliatory attacks. It also offered condolences to the families of those killed and said further information would be released as it became available.
The latest bloodshed highlights the persistent challenge of inter-communal violence in South Sudan, where disputes involving armed youths, cattle raiding and revenge attacks have repeatedly claimed lives. In March, at least 169 people were reportedly killed in communal violence in the country’s north, while clashes in the disputed Abyei region left at least 26 people dead in September.
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