Dozens Killed as Mob Attacks South Sudan UN Base

Locals Force Their Way In, Attack Refugees

Chaos erupted today when hundreds of residents from the city of Bor, in South Sudan’s Jonglai State, showed up at the nearby UN base, saying they wanted to “present a petition.”

Before long the locals had forced their way through the gate and attacked the thousands of refugees that have been sheltering in the base, killing dozens of them and wounding many more.

The death toll is still being withheld, though by some accounts it was “at least 58.” None of the UN troops at the base were killed, though two were reportedly wounded chasing the mob of locals off the base.

A civil war in South Sudan, between government forces and those loyal to former Vice President Riek Machar, has displaced nearly a million people nationwide. The war has broken down along ethnic and tribal lines, and has impacted many civilians who had nothing to do with either side.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.